By Andi Anderson
Iowa Learning Farms will host a Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Workshop on March 18 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Coralville Public Library. This free event welcomes farmers, landowners, and urban residents interested in conservation efforts.
Pollinators play a crucial role in food production, with approximately 75% of flowering plants and 35% of global food crops relying on them.
Monarch butterflies, a key pollinator species, migrate across North America, particularly through the Midwestern Corn Belt, including Iowa. They depend on milkweed for nectar and egg-laying, making habitat conservation essential.
The workshop will provide insights into creating and maintaining pollinator-friendly environments. Expert speakers include Katherine Kral-O'Brien, an Iowa State University assistant professor and co-leader of the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, Mykayla Hagaman, a program specialist with the consortium, and Stephanie Shepard, a wildlife diversity biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The event will take place at the E. Jean Schwab Auditorium in the Coralville Public Library. Attendees will enjoy a complimentary meal and have a chance to win ISU Prairie Strips honey. Space is limited, so reservations are required. Participants are encouraged to park away from the two rows closest to the library.
For reasonable accommodation and to RSVP, contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops receive support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more details, visit the Iowa Learning Farms website.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: Iowa, Education