CCFB News» June 2023

Farm Bureau Pollinator Garden Receives Monarch City USA Designation

In May, the Cook County Farm Bureau® Board of Directors approved the Farm Bureau joining Monarch City USA.  Monarch City USA strongly encourage municipalities and organizations to directly help the monarch butterfly population recover through planting milkweed and nectar plants within their borders. 

A portion of the resolution is provided below.

WHEREAS, the monarch’s habitat needs are specific; its caterpillars can only survive if they have milkweed, and the adult butterflies need nectaring plants and wildflowers; and

WHEREAS, monarch populations are measured by the total forest area occupied by monarchs over the winter in the oyamel forests of central Mexico, the destination of their 3,000 mile migration; and

WHEREAS, during the 2017- 2018 winter season, the total forest area occupied by overwintering monarchs was just over six acres; and

WHEREAS, conservation experts hope to bring the overwintering coverage area to over 15 acres on average, which they believe will result in a sustainable population that can withstand seasonal variations; and

WHEREAS, increasing monarch populations to a sustainable level will require a multi-pronged approach from a variety of stakeholders across the monarch’s migration range, including stakeholders in Illinois and Cook County.

NOW, THEREFORE, Cook County Farm Bureau® recognizes the shared responsibility of farmers and others to expand, enhance, protect monarch butterfly habitat; and

NOW, THEREFORE, Cook County Farm Bureau with the assistance of partners has established pollinator habitat, engaged in community and member outreach, and provided pollinator seeds to farmers interested in establishing habitat.

BE IT RESOLVED, Cook County Farm Bureau will continue its efforts to expand, enhance, and protect pollinator and monarch butterfly habitat; and

FURTHER RESOLVED, Cook County Farm Bureau Board of Directors wishes to join Monarch City USA, a nonprofit dedicated to helping the monarch butterfly population recover by encouraging and planting milkweed and nectar plants; and

A sign designated the pollinator garden will be added later this summer.  Members interested in learning more about Farm Bureau’s pollinator efforts are encouraged to reach out to Bona Heinsohn at (708) 354-3276 or join the Monarch Club at 10 a.m. on July 11 at the Farm Bureau office.