Tom Vilsack Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Official Website
On May 23, 2024, in Casco, Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new investment in domestic fertilizer projects aimed at strengthening competition for American farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. This initiative is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda designed to stimulate economic growth from the middle out and bottom up.
“The Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are committed to bolstering the economy and increasing competition for our nation’s farmers, ranchers and small business owners,” Secretary Vilsack stated. “The investments announced today, made possible through the Commodity Credit Corporation, will increase domestic fertilizer production and strengthen our supply chain, all while creating good-paying jobs that will benefit everyone.”
The USDA is allocating $83 million across 12 states through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP). This program offers grants to independent business owners to modernize equipment, adopt new technologies, build production plants, and more. The goal is to boost domestic fertilizer production, enhance competition, and reduce costs for U.S. farmers.
Examples of funded projects include:
- In California: 4420 Serrano Drive LLC received a $25 million grant to build a food waste upcycling facility in Jurupa Valley. The facility uses insects to recycle food waste into organic nutrient fertilizer and is expected to produce 11,400 tons annually.
- In Florida: Cog Marketers LTD (AgroLiquid) was awarded $4 million to construct a manufacturing facility in Lake City. This facility aims to produce 2 million gallons of fertilizer components annually.
- In Iowa: Return LLC received $4 million to expand its Northwood facility by improving infrastructure and purchasing equipment for manufacturing and transporting materials.
These awards are part of broader efforts by USDA Rural Development which provides loans and grants aimed at expanding economic opportunities in rural areas. To date, USDA has invested $251 million in 57 projects across 29 states through FPEP.
President Biden established FPEP in response to rising fertilizer prices between 2021 and 2022 due to factors such as the war in Ukraine and limited industry competition. The administration has committed up to $900 million through the Commodity Credit Corporation for this program.
FPEP aligns with wider initiatives promoting fair competition, innovation, resiliency across food and agriculture sectors while addressing climate change challenges.
For further information on these investments or USDA programs visit www.usda.gov or subscribe for updates via GovDelivery Subscriber Page.
