Press Release - New Supply Chain Funding for Port of Oakland Will Deliver Exports to Market Faster

Yesterday, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new efforts to ease port congestion and restore disrupted shipping services for American farmers and agricultural producers. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Port of Oakland to set up a new 25-acre "pop-up" site to make it easier for agricultural companies to fill empty shipping containers with commodities, like American soybeans, dairy, and specialty crops, such as nuts and fruit. These actions build on the Administration's efforts to support America's farmers and address pandemic-induced supply chain challenges. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are upgrading critical infrastructure to ensure that Americans can get to work and goods can get from ship to shelf.

Reuters: U.S. helps fund California port project as export delays hurt food makers (1/30) The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Sunday it will help fund a new container yard for agricultural exports at California's Port of Oakland, as the government, ports and food companies scramble to ease costly shipping delays.

• Fox News: US helps fund California port project as export delays hurt food makers (1/31) Reuters wire
• The Cattle Site: USDA funds California port project to tackle food export delays (1/31) Reuters wire
• Yahoo News: U.S. helps fund California port project as export delays hurt food makers (1/31) Reuters Wire
• Maritime Professional: US Helps Fund Oakland Port Project (1/31) Reuters Wire

New York Times: The Agriculture Department aims to ease port congestion by adding capacity (1/31) The Agriculture Department said on Monday that it would increase capacity at the Port of Oakland in California as part of a bid to address supply chain disruptions.

POLITICO PRO: USDA project aims to ease agricultural export backup at Port of Oakland (1/31) The Agriculture Department said Monday it will help pay for a new project at California's Port of Oakland in an effort to help clear backlogs of U.S. agricultural exports that are facing shipping disruptions.

AgriPulse: USDA to boost ag export capacity at Port of Oakland (1/31) The USDA announced Monday plans to help fund a new 25-acre container yard at the Port of Oakland to try help farmers get their rice, beef, pork, almonds, hay and other agricultural commodities into containers and on to ships.

Epoch Times: US Department of Agriculture to Fund Port of Oakland Pop-Up Site to Tackle Shipping Delays (1/31) The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Jan. 30 that it will help fund a new container yard at California's Port of Oakland in an effort to tackle ongoing shipping delays.

Modern Farmer: USDA to Set Up 'Pop-Up' Site to Ease Port Congestion (1/31) The USDA announced today that it will partner with the Port of Oakland to create a 25-acre "pop-up site," allowing agricultural companies more space to fill their shipping containers and get products moving.

AgDaily: USDA to address port issues in California (1/31) The supply chain issues are at the forefront of issues caused by the pandemic. In an effort to relieve congestion at the ports, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans to increase capacity at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California and improve service for shippers of U.S. grown agricultural commodities.

National Hog Farmer: USDA offers solution to ease port disruption (1/31) "COVID-19 revealed vulnerabilities across our supply system, both at our ports and in the agricultural sector," explains Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

Meat + Poultry: USDA to assist Port of Oakland 'pop-up' site (1/31) The "pop-up" concept has moved from shopping malls to shipping yards. The US Department of Agriculture has joined an initiative by the Port of Oakland to create a 25-acre pop-up site for agricultural companies to fill empty containers which will help relieve congestion at the port.

Drovers: USDA Partnership to Ease Port Congestion, Restore Disrupted Shipping (1/31) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced plans to increase capacity at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, Calif., and improve service for shippers of U.S. grown agricultural commodities, USDA said in a release.

Hoosier Ag Today: USDA Announces Partnership to Ease Port Congestion (1/31) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Monday announced plans to increase capacity at California's Port of Oakland and improve service for shippers of U.S. grown agricultural commodities. NAFB News Service

iPolitics: The Sprout: Supply-Chain Summit Kicks Off (1/31) Reuters is reporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture will help fund a new container yard for agricultural exports at the Port of Oakland in California amid shipping delays that are hurting food companies.

Capital Press: USDA partners with Port of Oakland to increase capacity (1/31) USDA is partnering with the Port of Oakland to set up a new 25-acre "pop-up" site to make it easier for agricultural companies to fill empty shipping containers with commodities.

The Produce News: USDA partnership to ease port congestion for U.S. agricultural commodities (1/31) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced plans to increase capacity at the port of Oakland in Oakland, CA, and improve service for shippers of U.S.-grown agricultural commodities.

AgNet: Port of Oakland Plan Aims to Quicken Ag Exports (1/31) U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Monday announced a plan for the Port of Oakland to speed up agricultural exports. The Department of Agriculture is partnering with the Port of Oakland to set up a new 25-acre "pop-up" site to make it easier for agricultural companies to fill empty shipping containers with commodities.

TV/Radio

RFD-TV: USDA Working with DOT to Create 25 Acre Pop-Up at Port of Oakland (1/31) Reporter: Well, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has a new plan to get U.S. agricultural goods flowing through the Port of Oakland. It's working with the Transportation Department to open a 25 acre pop-up site for empty shipping containers.

KBAK (Bakersfield, CA): USDA Funding 25 Acre Pop-Up Site at Port of Oakland (1/31) Reporter: The Ag department said it would help fund a new container yard for agriculture exports at California's Port of Oakland as the government, ports, and food companies scramble to ease these costly shipping delays. The multimillion-dollar project is set to open in March. The Port of Oakland will open a 25 acre pop-up site to provide space to prepare empty containers, according to the USDA, and that will move containers and store them for rapid pick up.

KUSI (San Diego, CA): Ag Department to Fund New Container Yard at Port of Oakland (1/31) Reporter: Now the Port of Oakland will open a 25 acre pop up site to provide the space for empty containers, kind of get them out of the way, and they will move those containers and store them for rapid pick up as well.

WJZY (Charlotte, NC): USDA to Fund Shipping Site for Agricultural Exports (1/31) Reporter: Well, the Ag Department said it will help fund a new container yard for agriculture exports at California's Port of Oakland. And this as food companies scrambled to ease costly shipping delays, which have been one of the things driving up food prices.

KGFO (Fargo, ND): USDA Announced a Pop-Up Port Near Oakland (1/31) Reporter: Many of these carriers have suspended service to the Port of Oakland, according to USDA, so this pop-up site, this 25 acre pop-up site, could make it easier for Ag companies to fill empty shipping containers and send them overseas. And that should begin in early March.

WFMN (Jackson, MS): Vilsack Announced Plans for a 25 Acre Pop-Up Site at the Port of Oakland (1/31) Reporter: Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced plans to increase capacity at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California and improve service for shippers of U.S.-grown agricultural commodities. USDA is partnering with the Port of Oakland to set up a new 25 acre pop-up site to make it easier for agricultural companies to fill empty shipping containers with commodities.

WYMC (Mayfield, KY): USDA invests in Port of Oakland (1/31) The USDA is partnering with the Port of Oakland to better improve the movement of ag exports out of the U.S. A new 25-acre "pop-up" site is being created to help ag commodities fill empty shipping containers on site.

KPIX (San Francisco, CA): Help May Soon Arrive To Clear Massive Backlog Of Empty Shipping Containers At Port Of Oakland (1/31) To help ease the backup, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Agriculture are teaming up for a 25-acre site at Howard Terminal that will do nothing but stage empty containers, specifically for farmers looking to get their goods out of the country.