Moving grain and other agricultural products from one place to another was a logistical nightmare in 2022. The transportation trouble was the Number Five story for the Red River Farm Network. In a normal year, the Mississippi River is a major thoroughfare for grain, fertilizer and other farm inputs. However, this was not a normal year. Thanks to the drought, water levels were at historic lows. There was a time in early October when more than 2,000 barges were backed up on the river. The other transportation story making headlines was the threat of a railroad strike. A tentative deal was secured in mid-September, but a few of the unions failed to ratify the agreement. A strike was imminent, but Congress intervened to keep the trains moving. Finally, the truck driver shortage continues. Nearly 80,000 truck driver jobs remain unfilled.
