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.

GAINESVILLE, Fla., July 8, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the Virgin Islands opened enrollment today for the Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP) for fiscal year 2024. The enrollment period begins July 8 and will run through Sept. 30. The deadline for producers to provide supporting documentation is Nov. 1, 2024.   

RTCP helps U.S. farmers and ranchers offset a portion of the cost of transporting agricultural products over long distances. 

“Our farmers are at a competitive disadvantage when transporting agricultural products to market,” said Deborah Tannenbaum, Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director. “This program exemplifies our commitment to give farmers the tools and resources they need to boost production and offset transportation costs, factors that have a direct impact on food prices paid by consumers.” 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 authorized $3.5 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 $4 million was issued to more than 1,100 producers, in all eligible areas combined, through the 2023 RTCP.    

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. A higher payment cap may be determined if claims for payments do not exceed available funding. Therefore, applicants are encouraged to submit all eligible receipts. 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.    

More Information

To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under 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 safe, 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 usda.gov.