Page 20 2026 Spring Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 2026 Bottlenecks beyond local elevators Typically, in Logan County the grain that is produced by the farmers is hauled from the field to the local or regional elevator by truck, then shipped onward. The elevators often load the grain on trucks, rail cars or barges and send to export terminals along the Mississippi River. When river traffic slows, elevators downstream fill up more quickly and cannot move grain out as fast. This ripple effect indirectly creates backups to the inland counties like Logan. Higher transportation costs passed upstream Barges are one of the lowest-cost bulk transportation methods out there and are popular because of that. However, because of the restrictions on the Mississippi River, it forces shippers to rely more on rail or trucking. Those alternatives are much more expensive, and the ripple effect is that they add additional costs that often show up as wider basis levels, or lower prices paid, to farmers, even if you farm far inland from the river. Slower overall grain movement Drought conditions also contribute to uneven harvest timing, which already strains storage facilities and handling systems. With slow barge movement on the Mississippi, grain may sit longer on-the-farm or in commercial storage. This can increase costs for the farmer with extra grain storage costs, drying of the grain and could increase the logistical pressure during peak harvest periods. The fact that there is a drought going on, and there is low water on the Mississippi, will not stop Logan County farmers from planting or harvesting grain. However, low water on the Mississippi reduces barge capacity, slows downstream movement, delays movement
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