US seeks to expand domestic fertilizer production with new grants
![this-shot-makes-me-thirsty-i-love-how-this-shot-turned-out-i-was-about-10-meters-above-the-ground-with-my-mavic-pro-this-is-a-small-winery-in-the-mid-willamette-valley-outside-salem-oregon-this-is-one-stockpack-unsplash – Fertilizer Daily This shot makes me thirsty! I love how this shot turned out. I was about 10 meters above the ground with my Mavic Pro. This is a small winery in the mid-Willamette Valley outside Salem, Oregon. This is one of the biggest wine-producing areas in the country and it makes for some wonderful evening drone flights.](https://www.fertilizerdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/this-shot-makes-me-thirsty-i-love-how-this-shot-turned-out-i-was-about-10-meters-above-the-ground-with-my-mavic-pro-this-is-a-small-winery-in-the-mid-willamette-valley-outside-salem-oregon-this-is-one-stockpack-unsplash-1044x686.jpg)
The US Department of Agriculture’s secretary, Tom Vilsack, announced on Monday that the agency, under the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP), will award $52.6mn to 17 new fertilizer projects.
The USDA stated in a press release that the initiative – which was launched in 2022 following Russia’s market-disrupting invasion of Ukraine – initially sought to disburse $500mn to farmers and businesses with a view to stimulating domestic fertilizer production and creating jobs in rural communities.It said that in June of this year, due to high demand for grants, it increased that figure to $900mn.
The agency noted that since the FPEP was set up it has pledged to invest a total of $121mn in 33 projects. It added that it will announce further awards in the coming months.
Monday’s largest grant went to Bionutrients Ag LLC. The company, which will receive $5.5mn, plans to build a $50mn specialty fertilizer plant in Wabash, Indiana. It will use chicken manure, as well as other poultry waste, to produce fertilizer for grain and fruit crops.