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Ag groups encouraged by monarch proposal

Officials from a pair of ag groups say the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed threatened listing of the monarch butterfly under the Endangered Species Act is an opportunity for agriculture.

Megan Dwyer, director of conservation with the Illinois Corn Growers Association, tells Brownfield, “There’s a lot of preclusions for general agricultural practices, so that’s very positive.”  She says, “Things that we, you know, want to make sure stay in any final rule when we’re just engaging in normal farming practices on our private land.”

Matthew Mulica, lead facilitator with Farmers for Monarchs, says monarch-focused conservation efforts will be key moving forward.

“Just getting more milkweed and other flowering nectar plants on the landscape.”  He says, “We ask that farmers leave those areas natural, or wild, where milkweed occurs, and also find places within their operations where new milkweed can be developed.”

AUDIO: Matthew Mulica – Farmers for Monarchs

Dwyer says a section of the proposal regarding the conversion of naturalized grasslands has raised some concerns, which is why the current 90-day comment period is so critical.

“Maybe that less ideal piece of land that has been in pasture, but you’re going to leave it sit idle for a couple of years.”  She says, “A piece of land can become naturalized very quickly.  The potential problems and unintended consequences of a conversion of naturalized grasslands without any reference to permanency is very concerning.”

Mulica says their organization has put together an online toolkit to assist farmers with the comment process.  A link can be found HERE.

AUDIO: Megan Dwyer – ICGA

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