USDA Announces $500 M Fertilizer Funding and $76.5 M Food Purchase for American Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) opened a new round of the Fertilizer Investment & Expansion for Long‑term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) program, making up to $500 million available to expand domestic fertilizer manufacturing and related infrastructure. Applications, due August 17 2026, can fund upgrades to existing plants, construction of new facilities, storage terminals and transportation assets. Eligible applicants include for‑profit firms, nonprofits, cooperatives, Tribal entities and government bodies, with awards ranging from $15 million to $150 million and a requirement for matching funds.

In a separate action, USDA announced it will purchase up to $76.5 million of agricultural commodities—including Atlantic groundfish, farm‑raised catfish, canned peaches, fresh grapefruit, oranges, frozen blackberries and prunes—from U.S. producers. The purchases, made under Section 32 of the 1935 Agriculture Act, will be channeled to food banks and nutrition assistance programs nationwide to support farmers and improve food security.