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

The Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long-term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) Program is intended to expand, or bring into operation new, independent domestic fertilizer production capacity in order to provide agricultural producers with additional domestic fertilizer options and strengthen the U.S. fertilizer supply chain. Program funding supports projects that significantly increase domestic process-manufacturing capacity and fertilizer availability, including 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. The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is utilizing the services of the Rural Business-Cooperative Service to implement the program.

Entities are eligible regardless of legal structure and may include Tribes, Tribal Entities, Alaska Native Corporations, for-profit entities, corporations, non-profit entities, producer-owned cooperatives and corporations, certified benefit corporations, and state or local government entities. Private entities must be independently owned and operated.

Eligible applicants must operate within the U.S. and its territories and propose projects physically located within the U.S. and its territories; be domestically owned; process-manufacture (or plan to) in accordance with all federal, state, Tribal and local regulations; and be registered in SAM.gov and maintain registration through the term of an award. Additionally, eligible applicants (including affiliates) must not hold a market share in production greater than or equal to the entity holding the fourth-largest share of that market for any of nitrogen, sulfur, phosphate, potash, or any combination thereof. Multiple applications from affiliated applicant entities are not permitted.

At least $500 million is available; the maximum award amount is $150 million. Eligible uses of funds include: construction of a new facility or purchase of an existing facility to expand capacity or output (including land purchase); pre-development costs (engineering and professional fees); working capital to support expanded capacity (not as the primary use); modernizing or expanding an existing facility; purchasing new or modernizing existing process-manufacturing equipment; customizing and installing equipment/technology that improves processing, worker conditions, or safety; ensuring compliance with packaging/labeling and occupational-safety requirements; and improving fertilizer logistics (distribution, transportation, storage) to benefit producers (not as the primary use). Applications are filed electronically through Grants.gov. Authorized by section 5(b) of the CCC Charter Act (15 U.S.C. 714c(b)); questions to FIELDS@usda.gov.

Applicants are encouraged to review the Applicant Self-Screening Tool to assess preliminary eligibility for the program.

All FPEP applications must be filed through Grants.gov.  

Please review the Application Checklist to ensure a complete FPEP application is filed. 

Please review the following documents referenced in the application checklist:

• Project Narrative

• Environmental Checklist

• Feasibility Study Guide (for projects requesting $5 M or more)

• Signed Certifications Fillable Form

All applicant entities must have a current and active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to file an MPPEP application. Please reference Section 3.7 of the MPPEP RFA for registration instructions.

• Request For Applications

• Fact Sheet