New program grants aimed at improving fertilizer access for US farmers

USDA’s Rural Development is accepting applications for the Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program, aimed at providing U.S. farmers with more access to domestic fertilizer.

The Commodity Credit Corporation is utilizing the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service to make $500 million in funding available to expand domestic production capacity, promote competition, strengthen supply chain resilience and increase fertilizer availability, according to a news release.

Eligible applicants include tribes, tribal entities, Alaska native corporations, for-profit entities, corporations, nonprofit entities, producer-owned cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, and state or local government entities. Private entities must be independently owned and operated.

Projects may include expansions or upgrades of existing facilities, construction of new domestic production facilities, shovel-ready projects capable of rapidly increasing domestic supply, and on-site fertilizer terminals and transportation infrastructure that improve supply chain efficiency.

Competitive, cost-share awards of $15 million to $150 million are available to eligible entities, with matching funds required. The fertilizer manufacturing process must be:

• independent and outside the dominant fertilizer suppliers
• made in America
• innovative
• energy-dominant and secure
• farmer-focused

Priority will be given to projects in the later stages of development that are technically feasible, financially viabe and have already identified other sources of funds, according to USDA.

Electronic applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 17.

An American Farm Bureau Federation survey conducted in April found that 70% of American farmers worry they cannot afford to purchase enough fertilizer to make it through the year.