Close to half of all U.S. corn, soybeans and wheat exports move through the Mississippi River system, making it one of the most important export corridors in the world. Over the past five years, an average of 65 million metric tons of bulk agricultural product traveled by barge to terminals near New Orleans, where shipments were loaded onto ocean vessels bound for global customers. This inland waterway remains the most cost-effective way to connect Midwestern farms to foreign markets, ensuring U.S. agriculture can compete on price and reliability.

Agricultural trade plays a vital role in the American economy. It supports U.S. farmers while driving economic growth and job creation across the country. With more than 20% of U.S. agricultural production sold abroad, exports are a key part of this picture. On average, every dollar of agricultural exports generates $2.06 in additional economic activity within the United States.

Agricultural markets maintain remarkable stability despite recent heat waves that stirred memories of past crop disasters. Investors across Wall Street to Main Street appear content with current conditions as volatility indexes reach year-long lows ahead of critical Federal Reserve announcements.