News

Over 100 years ago, ISU Extension and Outreach engaged 4-H youth in growing better varieties of corn as a way to get the innovation to their farmer parents. When your son or daughter has higher yields than you do, you pay attention.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) launched the new Monarch Fueling Station Project, which encourages biofuel producers in Iowa to add monarch butterfly habitat near production facilities.

The eastern population of monarch butterflies has declined significantly during the past 20 years. As the figure here illustrates, Iowa is in the heart of the summer breeding range for these monarchs.

Participants at the recent monarch conservation field day enjoyed a beautiful morning, lively conversation, and hands-on activities!

When people think of STEM research, butterflies aren’t typically what come to mind.

Three women are working to change that perception.

AMES, Iowa – Monarch butterfly populations have taken a nosedive over the last 20 years, according to researchers who monitor the number of butterflies that spend the winter in Mexico every year.

There's a lot of effort going to save the Monarch Butterfly as its population declines and that includes finding out how and why they move from one place to the next.

AMES, Iowa — Research on increasing habitat for monarch butterflies will be among the topics presented at the July 20 field day at the Iowa State University Western Research and Demonstration Farm near Castana.

AMES, Iowa — A new U.S. Geological Survey study highlights multiple options for restoring monarch breeding habitat in the Midwest to support recovery of the monarch butterfly.

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Iowa – Iowa State University’s Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm will host its annual spring field day June 22.

Ames, Iowa—Iowa Learning Farms will host a monarch butterfly and wetland field day Wednesday, June 14th. The 10:30a.m.-12:30 p.m. field day will be held at a CREP wetland near Story City.

AMES, Iowa – Research has shown a steep decline in North America’s monarch butterfly population. The 2016 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll examined ways farmers might help reverse that decline through habitat restoration.

By Laura Crowell
laura.crowell@ia.usda.gov

AMES, Iowa — The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium today released a statewide strategy to support monarch butterfly recovery in Iowa and North America, available at www.iowamonarchs.info.

Contact: Justin Fritscher
justin.fritscher@wdc.usda.gov

By Lynn Laws