WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching a $500 million program to expand domestic fertilizer manufacturing, marking the Trump administration’s latest effort to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and lower input costs for American farmers.
The Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply, or FIELDS, Program will provide funding for the construction and expansion of fertilizer production facilities, with individual awards ranging from $15 million to $150 million, the department said.
Administered through USDA Rural Development and funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation, the program will prioritize projects that are shovel-ready, financially viable and capable of increasing production of critical crop nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphate, potash and sulfur.
“For decades, American farmers were forced to rely on unstable foreign suppliers for one of the most important inputs needed to feed our nation,” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement. “Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is rebuilding America’s fertilizer manufacturing base, strengthening supply chains, and ensuring our producers have reliable and affordable access to the fertilizer they need to remain competitive.”
The announcement follows a series of administration actions aimed at reshaping the fertilizer market, including temporarily suspending countervailing duties on certain phosphate fertilizer imports, designating phosphate and potash as critical minerals, and creating a USDA position dedicated to monitoring fertilizer markets and agricultural inputs.
USDA said the new program was developed after reviewing more than 120 fertilizer projects inherited from the previous administration and identifying barriers that delayed construction and financing.
Unlike earlier federal funding initiatives, the FIELDS program will emphasize project readiness, financial strength, realistic construction timelines and measurable production outcomes, according to the department.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said expanding domestic production would reduce dependence on foreign suppliers while supporting U.S. manufacturing.
“It makes zero sense to import fertilizer from foreign competitors when we can make it right here while fueling our economy and protecting human health and the environment,” Zeldin said.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the program aligns with the administration’s broader effort to make fertilizer more accessible and affordable by reversing policies that officials argue contributed to higher agricultural input costs.
USDA said the initiative is intended to strengthen competition in fertilizer markets, improve supply-chain resilience and increase long-term fertilizer availability for farmers.
Applications for the program must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 15, 2026. Additional information is available through USDA Rural Development at www.rd.usda.gov and on Grants.gov.
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