Enrollment Period Begins for USDA’s Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program 

Program Helps Offset Transporting Costs for Farmers and Livestock Producers Outside the Contiguous U.S.  

Palmer, Alaska, July 10, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Alaska opened enrollment today for the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP) for fiscal year 2023. The enrollment period begins July 10 and will run through Sept. 8. The deadline for producers to provide supporting documentation is Nov. 3, 2023.  

“RTCP helps U.S. farmers and ranchers offset a portion of the cost of transporting agricultural products over long distances,” said Amy Pettit, Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director. “This program helps U.S. farmers and ranchers outside the 48 contiguous states who are at a competitive disadvantage when transporting agricultural products to market.”  

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 authorized $4 million for RTCP and allows farmers and livestock producers in Alaska, Hawaii and insular areas including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands of the United States, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau, to recover costs to transport agricultural commodities or inputs used to produce an agricultural commodity. Nearly $3 million was issued to almost 1,100 producers through the 2022 Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment program.   

RTCP payments are calculated based on the costs incurred for transportation of agricultural commodities or inputs during a 12-month period, subject to an $8,000 per producer cap per fiscal year. If claims for payments exceed the funds available from the program for a fiscal year, payments will be reduced on a pro-rata basis.  

Farmers and livestock producers interested in participating in RTCP can obtain applications and other documents by calling toll-free 1-866-794-1079.   

To find their local FSA county office, producers can visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.  

   

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.