American Soybean Association (ASA) Director Wayne Fredericks, Osage, Iowa, will participate on a grower panel during the Monarch Collaborative Conference in St. Louis this August.

The conference discussion will cover promoting the role of agriculture in monarch conservation in the monarch corridor; understanding how the monarch population and habitat targets of individual states connect with national goals and fostering partnership opportunities.

Monarch populations have declined about 90 percent in the past two decades, with the World Wildlife Fund’s 2013 report from Mexico showing that the number of Monarch butterflies wintering there was at its lowest in 20 years. The number is measured by the amount of forest the butterflies occupy. In February 2016, the World Wildlife Fund and the Mexican National Commission of Protected Natural Areas reported the number of Monarchs overwintering in Mexico increased from the record lows of the past three years. However, the population remains 32 percent below the historic average.

ASA and other ag stakeholders are part of the Monarch Collaborative, headed by the Keystone Policy Center, which focuses on the conservation and recovery of the Monarch butterfly and works to establish best practices for farmers and landowners to aid in the conservation and sustainability of the butterfly population. Fredericks represents ASA on the collaborative.

During the conference, Fredericks will share his experiences in establishing habitat, both a year ago and again this spring. Grower panel conversation will highlight lessons learned, conditions for success and more.

“We’ve put in about 6.75 total acres in six different locations using continuous CRP and some voluntary efforts,” Fredericks said. “While studies suggest Monarchs are facing several challenges, growers can play a major role in ensuring a sustainable habitat.”