Fertilizer Investment Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply (FIELDS)

The Fertilizer Investment and Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply Program is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Rural Business-Cooperative Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation. The program is designed to address ongoing challenges in fertilizer supply chains, including market volatility, reliance on foreign inputs, and limited domestic production capacity. By investing in domestic fertilizer production, the program aims to improve supply chain resilience, increase competition, and ensure that U.S. farmers have reliable and affordable access to essential agricultural inputs. The primary objective of the program is to expand or establish new domestic fertilizer production capacity through financial assistance agreements. Projects must focus on process manufacturing of fertilizer, meaning physical, chemical, or mechanical transformation of raw materials into usable fertilizer products. The program emphasizes production that is independent of dominant suppliers, domestically located, innovative in approach, energy secure, and aligned with the needs of U.S. agricultural producers. Eligible projects include construction of new facilities, expansion or modernization of existing operations, and investments in infrastructure that improve fertilizer production and distribution efficiency, provided that production capacity is the primary focus. Funding under this program totals five hundred million dollars, with individual awards ranging from fifteen million to one hundred fifty million dollars. Awards are competitive and require a cost share, with applicants responsible for providing matching funds equal to fifty percent of total eligible project costs. Projects may span one to five years, with a maximum performance period of sixty months and potential extensions of up to twenty four months. Funding cannot be used for research and development, standalone distribution activities, or projects that do not significantly increase domestic manufacturing capacity. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entity types such as for profit companies, nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, Tribal entities, Alaska Native Corporations, and state or local governments. Applicants must be domestically owned, operate within the United States or its territories, and must not be among the largest fertilizer producers by market share. Additional requirements include registration in the System for Award Management, compliance with federal regulations, and demonstration of financial and technical feasibility. Projects must also comply with environmental review requirements and other federal standards. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and must include a comprehensive set of materials. Required components include standard federal forms, a detailed project narrative, budget documentation, environmental information, feasibility studies, financial statements, and supporting documentation demonstrating project viability. The project narrative must address objectives, work plans, budgets, land access, expected production increases, and evaluation criteria. Applicants must also provide certifications regarding legal status, funding commitments, and compliance with applicable regulations. Applications are evaluated through a competitive scoring process based on financial viability, technical merit, market impact, demand, work plan quality, risk mitigation strategies, and alignment with program priorities. Additional consideration is given to projects involving nitrogen or sulfur products and those with executed off take agreements. The agency anticipates announcing awards between December and January following the application deadline, with funding decisions based on ranking and available resources. The application deadline for this funding opportunity is August 17, 2026, and late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Applicants are encouraged to prepare submissions early and ensure all required documentation is included. For further information, applicants may contact the program team via the provided email address.

Ensure project is implementation ready with secured financing and strong feasibility documentation; prioritize advanced development stage projects