WINONA, Minn. – Barge traffic in and out of Winona has slipped dramatically — 727 barges through October, compared with 970 a year earlier. Weather was mostly why. Spring flooding forced the Army Corps to halt navigation through its Upper Mississippi locks. Then later was ow water caused by drought through much of the Mississippi drainage Barges bottomed out in the Lower Mississippi, which blocked navigational channels for weeks and backed up the whole system. Also many farmers kept their 2023 grains in elevators rather than shipping them out. Their hope was stronger commodity prices tyat never came. The number of barges to Winona averages more than 800 by the end of October and more than 1,000 a season.
Earlier: Barge commerce re-opens on Upper Mississippi
Earlier: Navigation blocked by flood waters at Alma