Drought is shrinking Mississippi River levels — again. That's a big problem for farmers

Farmers rely on the Mississippi River to ship grain and bring them imported fertilizer and other critical inputs. But another year of low river levels means barge travel will be more expensive.

The Mississippi River is again facing low water levels — pushing up barge rate and making it more expensive for farmers to export crops and import fertilizer.

Stretched out over 2,000 miles, the Mississippi is essential for farmers to sell their crops. Nearly half of all U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat exports travel down the waterway to the Gulf of Mexico.

Decreased rainfall starting late this summer shrunk the Ohio River, the main water source of the Mississippi. Before that, Mike Steenhoek, director of Iowa-based Soy Transportation Coalition, was hoping the river could avoid a fourth consecutive