Butterfly effect? NALC webinar will discuss impacts of listing monarch butterfly under Endangered Species Act
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
When a species is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, or ESA, it receives various protections — what impact could those protections have on agriculture?
That’s the question following the December 2024 proposal from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or FWS, to list the monarch butterfly as threatened under the ESA. Among other factors in its declining numbers, agricultural production and land use impact the butterfly by reducing milkweed habitat through land conversion and pesticide use, which disrupts their breeding and migration.
“This process began at least as far back as 2014 when various environmental groups submitted a petition to FWS to list the monarch butterfly,” said Brigit Rollins, staff attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC. “A decade later, FWS agreed, proposing to list it as a ‘threatened’ species.”
Rollins will discuss what the designation of “threatened” means, as well as other components of the proposed listing and which aspects of the proposal would especially impact agriculture during the NALC’s Feb. 19 webinar. The presentation, “Monarch Butterfly: Exploring the Proposed ESA Listing,” begins at 11 a.m. Central/Noon Eastern and is free to attend. Registration is available online.
“When a species is listed, it can impact how agricultural producers are able to operate,” Rollins said. “In the case of the monarch butterfly, the proposed listing from FWS provides exemptions for agriculture and citizen conservation efforts. Other areas, such as pesticide restrictions, are unaddressed. It’s possible that details about pesticide use would be included in the final listing decision or in a separate rule.”
The listing is only a proposal for now and is open for public comment through March 12.
“The agency has requested feedback from commentors on a variety of topics, including possible economic impacts of the proposed decision and how to address pesticide uses,” Rollins said. “Stakeholders can provide comments online.”
Along with examining the proposed decision to list the monarch, Rollins will also address how the new presidential administration could impact a final rule.
“The administration has not addressed the monarch decision specifically, so it is not clear how it plans to proceed,” Rollins said. “However, the webinar will discuss possible outcomes or administrative pathways that are available.”
More information from Rollins on the proposed listing of the monarch butterfly is available online on the NALC website. For background on the ESA, visit the NALC’s Endangered Species Act Manual, authored by Rollins, and the ESA Reading Room.
For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor
By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor
Hello everyone! It sure is cold on this Valentine’s Day 2025. That wind is harsh. Spring is on the way, I hope. Last Friday night we decided to go to The Barn. We have a family text, so we put it on there and whoever can go, will go. We had two tables full of people. I ride with my brother Larry, the crazy nephew Michael and Ivy Jane. On the way over there I said, “Did everyone remember to bring cash or a check?” Michael is in the front seat, and he pulls a folded check out of his pocket and shakes it in the air. Me and his dad say, “What are you going to do if you mess that ‘one’ check up?” He said, “Surely I won’t mess it up.” He was very confident. Keep in mind he had no cash, just this one check. I said, “You will mess that check up!” We all ate catfish and all the trimmings and had the best time, laughing and talking–just had a big time. We go to check out and Michael is in line a little ways in front of Jake, Rheding, Sutton and me. I am watching him when he gets up to the counter and I tell Jake and Rheding he has messed that check up, I repeat, he has messed that check up. Yes, folks, he messed the check up! On the line that says pay to the order of, he writes the amount. He has the whole line backed up trying to fix this check. In his words, by the time he got that checked marked up, he said it looked like a complicated flow chart with arrows and markings all over it. Believe it or not the check cleared, and he can rest easy he doesn’t owe the barn any money.
I am telling y’all when you go somewhere with this crazy family of mine, there is going to be something happening. If any of y’all want to tag along on one of our outings, just for kicks and giggles, I promise you will have a good time. Until next week, hug your loved ones and remind them how much you love and appreciate them.
SWISS CHICKEN CASSEROLE
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup of milk
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
6 slices Swiss cheese
1 package herb seasoned stove top stuffing
1/4 cup melted butter
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 dish with non-stick spray. Whisk the soup and milk together in a bowl until combined. Arrange the chicken in the prepared dish. Put your chicken in the dish and lay a piece of Swiss cheese on the top then spoon the soup mixture over the top. Sprinkle with the stuffing mix and drizzle with butter. Cover and bake in the preheated oven for around 50 minutes. Make sure the chicken is done on the inside. My boss makes this, and he cuts the chicken in pieces and lays the cheese on top. He likes it better that way. I guess this recipe has been around for years, but I have never made it. He also said he puts two cans of cream of chicken in it will give you extra gravy if you want to eat it on egg noodles or mashed potatoes. Have a blessed week and I hope you had a great Valentines Day. If you still have your spouse around never fail to tell them how much you love them and how much they mean to you.
March 17 is a great day for donating to 4-H
By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Even for a program symbolized by a four-leaf clover, “It takes more than luck to succeed,” says John Thomas, managing director of the Arkansas 4-H Foundation.
To give luck a bit of a boost, the Arkansas 4-H program uses March 17 — a day filled with green and clovers — as an invitation to support its youth development mission through donations.
“People see our youth wearing their green 4-H clovers, they know good things follow. Our 4-H’ers have a tremendous track record of community service,” Thomas said. “Each year, we see St. Patrick’s Day as a way to remind people to help Arkansas 4-H.”
This will be the fifth annual giving day. Thomas said this year’s goal is $45,000.
“Since we started this giving day in 2021, it has become the day that more and more people rally around to support the Arkansas youth we serve through the 4-H program. We’ve raised over $100,000 since we started and it all goes directly to the youth we serve.”
Each year, Arkansas 4-H distributes more than $150,000 in college and activity scholarships to its members.
“Your donation goes to a good cause,” he said, “We hope you will support us.”
Thomas said donations can be made online, or donors may text AR4H to 44321. He notes that when texting, donors will be asked to give a $44 default gift or donate a custom amount.
Arkansas 4-H members can attest to the personal growth opportunities the organization offers. There are more than 130,000 youth involved with 4-H in Arkansas.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice
The Senate approved legislation to improve maternal health care in Arkansas, especially in areas where existing medical services are lacking.
Also, a bill to provide a free breakfast every day to all students continued to breeze through the legislature and should soon be sent to the governor for her signature. It is part of her legislative agenda.
Senate Bill 213, known as the “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act,” changes Medicaid regulations to make prenatal care much more accessible in areas of the state that have been designated as maternal care deserts, because of a lack of obstetricians.
It establishes presumptive eligibility for pregnant women who apply for Medicaid. This allows them to get immediate prenatal care, while they’re waiting for a full application to be processed.
Also, SB 213 authorizes Medicaid to reimburse doulas and community health workers, including for visits to the pregnant woman’s home if the visit is related to prenatal or postpartum care.
Medicaid coverage will include office visits, laboratory fees, tests ordered by a physician, blood work, remote monitoring, fetal nonstress tests and glucose monitoring to detect possible gestational diabetes. Self measurement blood pressure devices will be covered also.
The House passed an identical bill. Improving maternal health care is part of the governor’s legislative agenda.
The Senate also approved a package of bills intended to prevent deceptive practices when canvassers collect signatures from registered voters, in order to place an issue on the ballot.
SB 207 would require canvassers to inform people, before collecting their signatures, that petition fraud is a Class A misdemeanor. The disclosure could be verbal, or in a separate written document that would be shown to people before they sign.
SB 208 would require canvassers to view a photo ID of each person signing the petition. If canvassers are unable to verify someone’s identity, they may not collect a signature.
SB 209 directs the Secretary of State to not count signatures on a petition if a preponderance of evidence indicates that the canvasser has violated state laws or provisions in the state Constitution regarding canvassing, perjury, forgery or fraudulent practices in getting signatures.
SB 210 would require people to read the ballot title of a ballot issue before signing the petition. The ballot title is a summary of all the provisions in the proposed constitutional amendment or initiated act. The bill allows for the ballot title to be read to the person signing, in the presence of the canvasser.
SB 211 would require canvassers to submit a sworn statement that he or she has complied with all state laws governing the collection of signatures, and with the Constitution. Unless the canvasser submits the sworn statement, any signatures he or she turns in will not be counted by the Secretary of State.
SB 59 would provide a free breakfast to all public school students, regardless of their family income, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. It has been passed by the Senate and cleared a Senate committee.
