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Manhattan Institute senior fellow Robert Bryce explains why the EPA should waive the U.S. Ethanol Mandate.
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Governor as well but.
Right now just up -- US Army Corps of Engineers warns the Mississippi River is dangerously close.
To the low water record set back in 1988.
Joining me now is the governor Mississippi Phil Bryant he participated in a flyover of the river yesterday.
And he joins us now in a Fox Business exclusive governor thank you so much for being here good to see -- vegan.
Hey I'm -- -- in just describe governor what you saw yesterday and -- flyover.
But viewed as you see from the photographs we took a pretty amazing sight sand bars as we call them extending out into the river and then even topping in the center of the river.
The supports of the bridge there at Vicksburg visible to the very base that's something that I have never seen I've been here all my lap now.
1988.
The Riverhead historically low levels there and so much the same situation.
We're concerned about our farmers trying to get that product almost barges that out is very difficult because they have.
Very light loads because of the low below water that we say.
Amazing and challenging situations here at the Mississippi River how much worse -- -- debt.
What are federal and other state officials talent you about.
You give -- some ideas now the gauges admit this were about eight point seven feet above sea level and Greenville about seven point eight.
In 1988.
It lit by minus ten point seven below sea level.
October's a dry last month of the year the lowest levels for that river so it could get worse now the course doing.
A remarkable job of dredging from here all the way from Vicksburg.
Up.
As far as Missouri at Cape Girardeau.
And we're -- we're trying our very best with the corps of engineers to keep the ports also open to trying to load these barges in areas -- ports have water.
Down at at the lowest levels we've seen since 1980 -- also would challenge the -- -- a remarkable job we're trying to keep up.
300 foot we asked about not foot date.
To keep that product moving to market that it is a real challenge.
-- how much more help do you need whether it's people.
Whether it's money.
Well of course what we need -- support of the corps of engineers and -- -- said they're doing the very best we can't try to make sure that we get the equipment that we need to keep the dredging going.
Everyone won't -- airport -- everyone lost their facility.
First that we're doing as much as we can hear working with of course the corps of engineers and mean -- emergency management Mississippi emergency management administration probably having a meeting -- -- -- at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
Perhaps another fly over and we're also dealing of course with the hurricane that could very well move into the -- it seems to be moving towards Florida now.
Droughts in the midwest affecting some 65%.
Of the cattle farmers -- -- 5% of corn.
And that drought in the -- -- us products that we look at with our of course if at all industry.
-- real again challenge of getting that few of fuel that we need to move that product market.
Do you have any testament of how what the economic impact just on the state will be so far from this drought.
And the problems you're saying on the Mississippi -- What we're trying to put those numbers together we know and and 1988 when that drought occurred.
It cost the barge industry which is a huge industry for us here in Mississippi.
A billion dollars -- just lost a billion dollars map we're still working with our farmers.
Now most of these products of these.
Were were sold before.
They were brought out of the field even in futures markets so we're not sure what it will be.
But certainly when you're paying more to barge you're crops to market there's going to be a loss.
To the farmers now -- that are very hot.
-- just now because of the demand of ethanol than not that might help level that out but we're still trying to put those numbers together.
Him out by the way -- coming up we're gonna talk about the request a wave that ethanol mandate at the federal level but governor.
Jeff Flock is our reporter and he's been covering this story extensively he -- alma northern part of the river.
An Iowa and he's standing by and I know -- -- question for -- -- Jaffe there.
Yet I am -- I've been watching these -- you talking about right appears perhaps you see but got -- just wonder I was down and in Greenville 1988 -- no that was a huge problem down that.
Down there then I'm wondering what is a chronic problem in Greenville and the cuts in the in the dredging budget.
You know led to this and cause cause you to be farther behind and you should be.
Well of course the problem in -- -- lack of water it's obvious that the rivers is at historic lows JF and and and thank you so much for being out there and giving us these reports.
Again trying to get the barges loaded the -- -- of the ward of the -- -- load perhaps half.
Of the product that they normally would transport in the river which makes more trips up and down the river and the cost of fuel obviously is going to be.
-- -- -- to the farmers so again just trying to load those barges at very low levels that we're not a currently used it.
The loading process is standard for the for the level of the -- and now they're much lower so that's a difficulty.
Also this morning we were talking about bringing fuel into the delta the fuel -- -- barged into the delta.
They -- to distribution centers for farmers throughout that area and so there is some.
Difficulty in getting -- -- fuel to the farmers.
To get these crops in out of the field that's a big challenge.
Governor is great to see you Jeff thank you for terrific reporting and I can watch you on a motor -- any day of the wake of -- -- And governor Phil Bryant of the state of Mississippi chaos they got sound a little bit more -- that I did Bob minutes ago governor but thank you for that -- good day.
Thank you for taking the time today we'd like to have some policy any tat aren't being well -- back on the river be well.
