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Stone X: Low river levels could affect fertilizer shipments

A fertilizer expert says low water levels along the Mississippi River could have an impact on fertilizer shipments.

Josh Linville with Stone X tells Brownfield, “It may not affect imports into the U.S., but it can affect the ability to move those imports from the Gulf of Mexico up through the countryside,” he said. “As that continues to struggle and freight rates continue to rise, that means your basis to the rest of the world continues to rise as well. Logistics costs more money.”

He says the river situation has been a rollercoaster ride for the ag industry.

“Last fall we were talking about record low levels,” Linville said. “We went into the spring melting off all the snowpack up north and then we were dealing with flooding. And now we are going right back to talking about low levels again.”

The National Weather Service says some navigation restrictions have been in place along the river this month.