(NAFB) – USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced that her department is making investments to strengthen America’s farms and businesses. The investments will expand innovative domestic fertilizer production and increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, which in turn will increase competition and lower fertilizer costs for farmers and food costs for consumers. The Department awarded over $120 million to six fertilizer production projects in Arkansas, California, Illinois, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. Business owners can use the funding for help completing different tasks like modernizing equipment, adopting new technologies, and building production plants. USDA is also awarding $20 million in funding to 26 projects through the Local Meat Capacity Grant Program to help expand processing capacity within the meat and poultry industry. “When we invest in domestic supply chains, we drive down input costs and increase options for farmers,” says Torres Small. “These investments help bring jobs back to the U.S.”