Ongoing market disruptions have created logistical challenges associated with the availability and flow of containers to transport agricultural commodities, which has prevented or delayed American-grown agricultural products from reaching their markets.
The Commodity Container Assistance Program (CCAP) currently includes a partnership with the Port of Oakland in California and the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) in Seattle and Tacoma. The Farm Service Agency is providing per-container payments at eligible ports to help cover additional logistics costs and ensure that American-grown products can once again move efficiently through supply chains to global markets.
The Agricultural Marketing Service is covering a percentage of the start-up costs of the “pop-up” sites in Oakland and the Port of Houston. The Port of Houston is not eligible for CCAP payments through the Farm Service Agency.
[This page has been archived.] The signup period for USDA’s Commodity Container Assistance Program (CCAP) closed on January 31, 2023.
How the Commodity Container Assistance Program Works
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) will make monthly direct payments to agricultural companies and cooperatives on a per-container basis based upon the location of the port, and the type of shipping container, including empty containers, dry filled containers, and refrigerated or “reefer” filled containers. Both sites will have the ability to pre-cool refrigerated shipping containers to receive perishable commodities.
FSA will make payments to eligible owners or designated marketing agents of U.S. agricultural commodities based on the number of eligible shipping containers utilized from March 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, from the Port of Oakland Howard Terminal, Port of Seattle Terminal 46, or the Port of Tacoma West Hylebos Terminal to ship agricultural products to their designated markets on container ships.
Through the partnerships with the Port of Oakland and the NWSA, FSA will offer payments of $200 per container for dry containers and $400 per container for refrigerated shipping containers (generally referred to as “reefer containers”) to help address the logistical costs of moving a container twice – first to the preposition site, and second to the terminal loading the vessel – along with the costs associated with temporary storage.
FSA will also provide $125 per container payment to partially reimburse agricultural product owners for the additional logistical expenses associated with picking up empty shipping containers to be filled with agricultural commodities and products at the Port of Oakland.
CCAP payments will be calculated as follows: number of containers picked up in the designated port multiplied by the respective CCAP payment rate for that type of container.
For example, if the owner of agricultural goods stored at a designated port terminal submits an application specifying 10 dry containers and 3 reefer containers for the month of March 2022, FSA will calculate the payment by multiplying 10 × $200 for the dry storage containers, and 3 × $400 for the reefer containers, for a total payment of $3,200 for that month.
Location and Type of Service
| CCAP Payment Rate ($/Container) |
|---|---|
| Provide empty shipping containers: | |
| Port of Oakland (empty shipping containers) | $125 |
| Provide Temporary Storage of filled shipping containers: | |
| Port of Oakland and NWSA | |
| Dry containers | $200 |
| Reefer containers | $400 |
Program Eligibility
FSA will make payments to eligible owners or designated marketing agents of U.S. agricultural products based on the number of eligible shipping containers utilized from March 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, Port of Oakland Howard Terminal, Port of Seattle Terminal 46, or the Port of Tacoma West Hylebos Terminal to ship agricultural products to their designated markets on container ships.
Eligible commodities include agricultural commodities (other than tobacco) which are grown or produced in the United States for food, feed, or fiber, and products made from those commodities, including certain forestry products.
Apply for the Commodity Container Assistance Program
Applications will be accepted based on the number of eligible shipping containers utilized between March 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022.
USDA’s Farm Service Agency will accept CCAP applications through January 31, 2023. Payments will be made in arrears and verified with terminal records.
The following items are needed to apply for CCAP:
- Complete the FSA-862, Commodity Container Assistance Program (CCAP) Application according to FSA-862 instructions and submit to the FSA National Office by email to SM.FPAC.FSA.CCAP@usda.gov.
- A Unique Entity ID (12 alphanumeric characters assigned by SAM.gov) is required. Applicants that wish to receive payment by direct deposit must complete SAM.gov registration online at sam.gov/content/home and provide bank account information.
Payments will be made in arrears and verified with terminal records. Applications must be submitted by January 31, 2023.