Monarch, pollinator habitat workshop set for March 18

AMES — Iowa Learning Farms will host a monarch and pollinator habitat workshop Tuesday, March 18 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Coralville Public Library.

Farmers, landowners and urban residents may attend the free workshop and enjoy a complimentary meal.

Pollinators, like farmers, help ensure the world eats. It is estimated that about 75% of the world’s flowering plants and about 35% of the world’s food crops depend on animal pollinators.

Monarchs are ecologically important as pollinators and are symbolic wildlife used by biodiversity conservation initiatives as exemplary flagship species. The iconic species migrates across U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico, as well as across dozens of U.S. states, especially the Midwestern Corn Belt and Iowa in search of milkweed for both nectar resources and laying their eggs.

This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn more about monarchs and about integrating pollinator habitat into Iowa’s landscape.

The workshop will be hosted by Katherine Kral-O'Brien, Iowa State University assistant professor in natural resource ecology and management and co-leader of the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, Mykayla Hagaman, Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium program specialist, and Stephanie Shepard, Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife diversity biologist.

The event will be held at the Coralville Public Library E. Jean Schwab Auditorium, 1401 Fifth St. in Coralville. Reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food.

Meeting participants should park in areas other than the two parking rows closest to the library.

Attendees will be given a complimentary meal and entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

RSVP to Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.

Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit iowalearningfarms.org.