Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers

This rule specifies regulations to implement the new Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) Program for geographically disadvantaged farmers and ranchers authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill). The purpose of the RTCP Program is to assist farmers and ranchers in Hawaii, Alaska and insular areas who paid to transport either an agricultural commodity or an input used to produce an agricultural commodity. The payments provided by the RTCP Program are intended to offset a portion of the costs of transporting agricultural inputs and products over long distances. This rule specifies eligibility requirements, payment application procedures, and the method for calculating individual payments.