Record butterfly habitats by May 31

Over the past two decades, monarch butterflies face many challenges that have contributed to a significant decline in their population. There’s an opportunity for monarch populations to recover by increasing breeding habitat and food resources, including milkweed and nectar sources, across its migration route.

In 2020, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will decide whether to propose monarchs for listing under the Endangered Species Act. This decision is informed in part by conservation efforts underway across the country, and everyone can support monarch health by planting habitat in their yards or on their land.

If sufficient habitat efforts are accounted for, a listing on monarch butterflies may not be needed.

Landowners and farmers who plant monarch habitats can record their efforts in the HabiTally app, a free mobile app developed by Bayer and The Climate Corporation, and donated to Iowa State University (ISU). The data entered through HabiTally will be shared with USFWS to be considered in its listing decision on monarch butterflies.

The app is available in the Apple App Store and enables users to enter data about their monarch conservation efforts. Information collected through the app is anonymous and shared directly with the USFWS to allow a better understanding of restoration projects taking place across the nation.

The USFWS is completing data collection at the end of May, so everyone who wants their monarch habitats to count toward this historic decision should record their efforts in HabiTally by May 31.

Find out more about HabiTally HERE.

Through National Corn Growers Association, Texas Corn Producers joins other agriculturists in the Farmers for Monarchs initiative. Find out more about this initiative and how farmers and ranchers are supporting conservation initiatives for monarchs at FarmersForMonarchs.org.