The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed listing the monarch butterfly as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), accompanied by a 4(d) rule. Farmers continue to play a vital role in supporting monarch butterfly populations as stewards of the land, managing habitats that provide food and shelter for this iconic species that has experienced significant decline. The USFWS has specifically asked for farmer input on this process to ensure that farming operations can continue to provide food, fiber, and fuel for the nation while also supporting species conservation. By sharing perspectives on conservation efforts that work in real-world agricultural settings, farmers like you can help shape policies that balance monarch recovery with the realities of production and land management.
This proposed rule includes a 4(d) rule, which aims to provide targeted protections for the monarch while offering flexibility to balance conservation with the production needs of ag stakeholders, especially farmers. USFWS is seeking public comments until March 12 to inform its final decision. As farmers, your insights are invaluable, especially regarding how the proposed regulations may affect your agricultural and conservation activities.
The purpose of this post is to provide relevant information and guidance to help you submit effective, meaningful comments that reflect your unique experiences and concerns.
How to Submit Your Comments
To ensure your feedback is considered, submit your comments by March 12, 2025. You can provide your input through Regulations.gov. This link will take you directly to Docket No. FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137, which is the proposed rule for the monarch (a screen shot of the page is above). Once you are there, click the blue Comment button to submit your comment.
Information Requested by the USFWS
USFWS is interested in a range of information to ensure a thorough evaluation of the monarch’s status and the implications of its potential listing. A comprehensive list of information it is seeking can be found in the proposed rule available at Regulations.gov. We have summarized ideas below for farmer perspectives that could be helpful to share with USFWS. ideas below that we feel would be helpful farmer perspectives to share with the USFWS:
- Conservation Measures: Reflect on any measures you take to minimize or avoid the non-target effects of agricultural practices, such as land conversion and pesticide use, on beneficial wildlife species such as monarchs. Describe voluntary conservation efforts you have implemented, such as planting milkweed or establishing more natural areas on your farm.
- Regulatory, Economic, and Other Impacts: Describe any questions or concerns you have about how your current decision making or operations may be affected by the proposed rule. Include anything that may be currently unclear in the proposal language. Consider whether certain regulations may create economic impacts, or how your attitude and behaviors toward monarch conservation activities may change if certain regulations are imposed. If you have experience with other threatened or endangered species, or know those who do, provide reflections on how operations were impacted by a listing.
- Monarchs and Monarch Habitat on Farms: Describe experiences you have with observing monarchs on your farm. If you have observed monarchs, describe what kinds of habitat you have observed them in and when you generally see them. Describe any changes you’ve noticed to monarchs or the quantity or quality of habitat they have available in your farm or area.
Tips for Effective Comments
- Be as specific as possible.
- Share personal experiences
- Ask for clarifications on what is unclear, discuss impacts of what may affect you.
- Offer practical alternatives, modifications, or language that can work for you and for monarchs.
- Use your own words. Do not submit identical comments.
Your participation in this comment period is incredibly valuable. By sharing your knowledge and experience, you can help shape policies that balance the conservation of the monarch butterfly with the realities of agricultural production.