Mike Pearson tells us about how the low levels of the Mississippi River is impacting farmers and residents in Louisiana.

The Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards has sought a federal disaster declaration as the salt water from the Gulf of Mexico intrudes into the Mississippi River.

The salt water is impacting drinking water, cropland and tree crops which rely on irrigation from the Mississippi River.

Last winter, the Army Corps. of Engineers started working on the problem. The issues of the unique geography and dredging the river bottom is below sea level in Louisiana which allows the salt water to enter.

More declines in water level in the Mississippi River is possible in the next few weeks.

The Army Corps. of Engineers is hoping a sill will be built this winter. It would be 2,000 feet long with a notch in the middle.

Some citrus farmers along the Mississippi River don't expect the trees to sustain themselves without irrigation and will die.

Without rainfall, salt water will continue to push inward.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, a farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.