Top Photo: Photo from Natural Resources Conservation Service / US Department of Agriculture.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for a new round of funding through its Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program, making up to $500 million available to expand domestic fertilizer manufacturing and strengthen the nation’s agricultural supply chain. Applications are due August 17, 2026.
Administered by USDA Rural Development through the Commodity Credit Corporation, the competitive grant program is intended to increase independent domestic fertilizer production and improve fertilizer availability for U.S. farmers. Funding can support upgrades to existing manufacturing facilities, construction of new production plants, shovel-ready projects capable of rapidly increasing supply, and investments in fertilizer storage terminals and transportation infrastructure.
For the organics recycling industry, the funding opportunity could present new avenues for projects that convert compost, digestate, manure, biosolids, and other organic residuals into marketable fertilizer products. In 2023, Sunshine Organics and Compost, LLC in Jacksonville, Florida received a $4.9 million grant through this program. Table to Farm Compost in Durango, Colorado received a $2.6 million grant. While the program is not limited to recycled nutrient technologies, USDA has stated that its goal is to expand domestic fertilizer options and foster greater competition within the marketplace. Eligible applicants include for-profit companies, nonprofit organizations, producer-owned cooperatives, Tribal entities, certified benefit corporations, and state and local governments.
Awards will range from $15 million to $150 million, with applicants required to provide matching funds. According to USDA, priority consideration will be given to projects that are already well advanced, technically feasible, financially viable, and supported by other confirmed sources of funding. The agency is encouraging applicants to focus on projects that can quickly bring additional fertilizer production capacity online while providing long-term benefits to the domestic agricultural sector.
The announcement comes as fertilizer supply and pricing remain an area of concern for U.S. agriculture. USDA says expanding domestic production will improve supply chain resilience, reduce dependence on imported fertilizers, and provide farmers with more reliable access to crop nutrients.
USDA has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity, application checklist, feasibility study guidance, and environmental review requirements to assist prospective applicants. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, and organizations are encouraged to ensure their System for Award Management (SAM) registration is active well before the application deadline.
For compost manufacturers, anaerobic digestion operators, and companies developing value-added nutrient recovery technologies, the FIELDS program signals continued federal interest in diversifying fertilizer production beyond conventional mineral sources. Projects that demonstrate commercial readiness and the ability to increase domestic fertilizer availability may be well positioned to compete for funding as USDA seeks to strengthen long-term agricultural resilience.
To learn more about the FIELDS Program, including eligibility requirements, application guidance, and key deadlines, visit the USDA Rural Development website. Applications for this funding round are due August 17, 2026.
