Barge operators on the Missouri River are not happy about a proposal by the Army Corps of Engineers to shorten next year’s navigation season on the river by 30 to 40 days. Roger Blaske operates 65 barges and two tug boatson the Missouri River. He says the Corps is quick to shut off the flow of water, but slow to turn it back on. Blaske says not only would a shortened barge traffic season hurt his business, but it would impact farmers in the state who rely on the barges to ship their grain. He believes those farmers could end up paying more to send their grain to market by rail or truck.
