Rain is good news for barge, harbor services - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Rain is good news for barge, harbor services

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NEW MADRID, MO (KFVS) -

The recent rain is welcome news to barge and harbor services.

A spokesperson for the New Madrid County Port Authority says the rising water makes moving product up and down the river a lot easier.

While they never shut down, the executive director of the port authority says knowing the river is rising makes their job a lot less stressful.

Timmie Hunter says they're able to fill the barges with more cargo now that the river is closer to normal.

"Much better, with the river going up it's not as much of a stretch on the tenants out there being able to move their product or being able to unload their product out there," Executive Director Timmie Hunter said.

Riceland, Crop Production Services, and Agrium Advanced Technologies are the tenants at New Madrid County Port Authority.

Hunter says they're already looking ahead to summer when the ports will likely need to be dredged.

Hunter says they likely won't get federal funds for it and aren't sure if the port will have the money to do it. If the port would have to close, they would be forced to use alternative methods by land.

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