Finding Balance on the Upper Mississippi

The Upper Mississippi is an artery of water that connects our farmers to markets and our communities to each other. It is a critical corridor of habitat for fish, birds, and wildlife. It is an international destination for tourists who want to see this mighty river and experience its power and enduring charm. Now the nation's priorities and the world economy are changing. As a result, we need to make some important choices for the future and the generations to come.

The Upper Mississippi and the World Yesterday and Today

Since World War II the Mississippi River has connected the agricultural producers of the Upper Midwest to international markets and consumers. Some 125 million tons of commodities were shipped on the Upper Mississippi River in 1995. Nearly half of this was farm products destined primarily for downstream and international ports. The river system continues to be an important highway for barges, facilitated by locks, dams and dredging.

Over the last twenty years there has been a leveling-off of transportation of agricultural products on the river. We are only one of many nations capable of growing a surplus, and we are far away from many emerging markets. With increasing production of grains in other countries and increasing export competition, American farmers face declining commodity prices. Furthermore, as the cost of production rises, farmers receive a decreasing share of the food dollar.

Given these conditions, farming in the Upper Midwest may need to once again become more self-sufficient and less dependent on foreign markets and expensive long-distance transportation systems. Future opportunities for agriculture lie in regional and national markets, not in international exports. "Close to home" may be an increasingly important market.

The river's habitat and what it supports are also important sources of employment and revenue. The river is a globally-important flyway for 326 bird species and hosts 260 species of fish, some twenty-five percent of all fish species in North America. Forty percent of all North American waterfowl use the river during their migrations. Recreation and tourism on the river employ some 143,000 people and generate $6.6 billion in revenue annually from more than 12 million visitor-days of use.

River Traffic has Stagnated

The Upper Midwest continues to grow more grain and oilseeds. However, this increased production is not directed down the Mississippi River to export markets. Corn and soybean exports have stagnated since 1980. A large and increasing majority of Upper Midwest corn and soybeans are used within the region for domestic uses such as livestock feed, vegetable oil, sweetener and ethanol.

Source: US Army Corps of Engineers' Waterway Commerce Statistics

• Restoring a more diverse and localized farm economy, less dependent upon uncertain foreign markets.

• Revitalizing river communities, taking advantage of the economic and environmental values of the river for recreation and tourism.

• Maintaining and rehabilitating the existing navigation system to efficiently serve the real needs of current and future barge traffic on the river.

We can make choices for progress and a better future