By Blake Jackson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is accepting applications through August 17, 2026, for the Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program, an initiative designed to strengthen the nation’s fertilizer production capacity and improve long-term supply for American farmers.
Administered by USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service through the Commodity Credit Corporation, the program will invest up to $500 million in projects that expand domestic fertilizer manufacturing.
The funding aims to boost market competition, strengthen supply chain resilience, and increase the availability of fertilizer essential for U.S. agricultural production.
“The FIELDS program is a step forward in increasing domestic fertilizer production,” said USDA Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Andrew C. Iverson.
“By expanding domestic fertilizer production, we’re helping farmers attain greater stability, reducing reliance on foreign sources, and supporting long-term productivity across rural Wisconsin communities.”
Eligible projects include expanding or modernizing existing fertilizer production facilities, building new domestic manufacturing plants, developing shovel-ready projects that can quickly increase production, and improving fertilizer terminals or transportation infrastructure to enhance distribution efficiency.
To qualify, proposed projects must demonstrate manufacturing strategies that are independent of dominant fertilizer suppliers, made in America, innovative, energy secure, and focused on meeting farmers’ needs.
Priority will be given to projects that are technically feasible, financially sound, well advanced in development, and supported by confirmed matching funds.
Competitive cost-share awards ranging from $15 million to $150 million are available, with applicants required to provide matching funds. Electronic applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 17, 2026.
Additional information on eligibility requirements and application guidelines is available on the FIELDS program webpage.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Wisconsin, Government & Policy