Study defines value and challenges of Mississippi River shipping channel
From Feedstuffs in Focus by Feedstuffs
January 23, 2026 · 27 min
About this episode
The episode explores the economic impact and challenges of the Mississippi River Ship Channel on U.S. trade.
A single stretch of water can set the tone for global prices, rural incomes, and the cost of everyday goods. We dive into the Mississippi River Ship Channel with Ken Erickson of Polaris Analytics and Consulting and Sean Duffy of the Big River Coalition to unpack new, verifiable numbers that quantify its outsized role in U.S. trade. The study pegs $226.5 billion in annual value moving through a corridor that links Midwest barges to ocean-going vessels, stitching together grain exports, fertili...
People in this episode
Guests: Ken Erickson, Sean Duffy
Topics covered
- shipping
- trade
- economics
- agriculture
- infrastructure
Keywords
- Mississippi River
- shipping channel
- trade value
- grain exports
- U.S. economy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Polaris Analytics and Consulting, Big River Coalition
Places: Mississippi River, Midwest, U.S.
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