A healthy, shallow, draft barge industry is essential to the well-being of U.S. agriculture. Sixty percent of U.S. farm grain, oilseed and feed exports (which is 25 percent of the world trade in grain and oilseeds) is transported on the Mississippi River system. This low cost transportation system is also used to transport 25 percent of U.S. farm fertilizer and is important for other farm inputs. U.S. farm exports are a major factor in reducing our balance of payments deficit and maintaining the strength of the dollar.
