The federal government is helping Pacific rim farmers and ranchers offset costs of shipping their products.

U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka said in a joint news release Thursday farmers and ranchers in Hawaii and the Pacific Rim are to receive $2.6 million in payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help compensate for the high costs of getting their product to the U.S. mainland and beyond.

The Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers was created by Inouye and authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill.

The program helps farmers and ranchers in Alaska, Hawaii and other insular areas including Puerto Rico, Guam and American Samoa.

Akaka says the program helps sustain agriculture, which provides jobs and a greener environment.