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Using CRP to Plant Milkweed and Save the Monarch Butterfly
Establishing pollinator habitat can offer numerous benefits to farmers. Not only do native, pollinator-friendly plants protect soil, but they help pollinators thrive. In turn, these pollinators provide crucial services for local crops and plant life, improving the health of the surrounding environment. By enrolling in the right CRP practice, farmers and landowners can even be paid to establish
What’s Causing the Decline of Monarch Butterflies?
The monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable species of insect in the US. It is synonymous with the beauty of nature, gracing posters, book covers, photo galleries, and more. Yet future generations might never see one of these graceful creatures in person. Between 1994 and 2016, the population of monarch butterfly decreased by 80%. Some experts fear it could go extinct in
The Pollinating Practices of Monarch Butterflies
When it comes to pollinators, bees get a lot of the attention. They’re certainly important, with certain crops relying almost exclusively on bee pollination. But with issues such as colony collapse disorder affecting the world’s bee population, some experts are pushing for a greater emphasis on pollinator diversity. After all, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, and even some
Dealing with Colony Collapse Disorder Among Honeybees
Where are all the honeybees going? That is the billion-dollar question agriculturalists across the world are asking. Colonies are dying out in large quantities as the majority of their worker bees simply disappear. It’s called colony collapse disorder. Between 1947 and 2005, the number of honeybees in the US decreased from 5.9 million to 2.4 million. If honeybees continue to disappear at the current
A Better Solar Solution: How Pollinator Habitat Improves Utility-Scale Solar Projects
Fossil fuels are a finite material. Estimates vary, but there will come a day when we run out of them. The sooner we can switch over to cleaner, renewable energy, the better. One of the leading contenders for utility-scale energy needs is solar power. The presence of large-scale solar projects is increasing dramatically. To keep up with demand, 3
Converting Cool Season Pasture Grass to Native Warm Season Grass
Cool season grass has long been popular throughout much of the US where it can be found everywhere from lawns to farm fields. While cool season grass thrives in the spring and fall when temperatures are mild and moisture is prevalent, it struggles in the hot dry summer months. Native warm season grass (or NWSG), on the