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Farmers work to keep monarch butterflies off endangered species list

An American Soybean Association (ASA) director encourages farmers to develop a conservation plan that includes pollinator habitat.

Wayne Fredericks of Osage in north-central Iowa says he started implementing practices that benefit monarch butterflies four years ago.

“We had some little pieces here and there that didn’t fit equipment, or were next to a grove or windbreak, and you just had these environmental effects.  Consequently they didn’t have really high yields or anything.  We found through the CRP program at that time provided a better and more stable profit opportunity on those acres.”

He tells Brownfield they used a program called AgSolver to calculate a profitability analysis.

The Monarch is currently being assessed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine if it needs to be protected as an endangered or threaten species.

Laura Campbell, with the Michigan Farm Bureau, tells Brownfield it would be troublesome for farmers if the Monarch was listed as threatened.

“The limitations and restrictions that we would have on everything from pesticide management to plowing and tilling, to planting seeds, harvesting, to anything that might injure an endangered animal or threaten its habitat could then be in question.”

The Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced financial assistance will be available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program Monarch Habitat initiative.

Campbell says the initiative is a proactive solution to protect Monarchs and will support the installation of approved practices including conservation cover, field borders, prescribed burning and brush management.

 

Wayne Fredericks audio:

 

Laura Campbell audio: