Mike Pearson tells us how dry conditions around the Mississippi River and Panama Canal can severely impact agriculture.

The Mississippi River has seen drought and flood conditions and it's impacted river traffic over the past year.

In the fall of 2022, river levels fell and the level of the Mississippi River was some of the lowest ever. Barges were loaded lighter so they could float higher and be able to travel the river.

The low levels even meant closures up and down the river.

The river was at historic low levels to record highs after winter.

The problem is that this year, part of the corn belt remains in a drought and that could mean problems again this fall for harvest for barge traffic due to not enough water being able to flow into the river from the ground.

The problem is not only in the continental USA.

A drought is gripping Panama-- home of the Panama Canal.

The problem there is that the Panama Canal uses a different system. The locks in the canal raise ships then when it gets to the other end, ships are lowered by locks.

The problem is that with drought, there is not enough water to raise up the ships.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, a farm broadcaster and host of
This Week in Agribusiness.