Contact: Cassidy Walter
515-322-0435

JOHNSTON, IOWA – Today marks the start of Pollinator Week and Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) members are excited to celebrate the progress of their Monarch Fueling Stations.

Pollinator Week is recognized internationally as a time to celebrate and educate about the important role pollinators play around the world. Since 2017 IRFA members have been planting Monarch Fueling Stations, and to date over 48 acres of pollinator habitat tailored toward monarch butterflies have been planted.

“The fact that so many of our members have stepped up to help in the fight to protect Iowa’s pollinators is truly a testament to what biofuels is all about – supporting our communities and protecting our environment,” said IRFA Communications Director Cassidy Walter. “We are especially excited this summer because many of our members’ projects are mature enough now to really show some growth and start providing monarchs and other pollinators the food sources they need.”

In the early years of a monarch habitat plot, the plants do most of their growing under the ground, developing a strong root system. Throughout the week IRFA will be sharing photos and updates from IRFA member projects on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

The monarch butterfly population has declined in recent years. IRFA members’ habitat projects are a part of a statewide effort led by the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium to prevent the monarch butterfly from being listed as an endangered species.

A monarch butterfly on a milkweed plant at Western Dubuque Biodiesel’s Monarch Fueling Station near Farley, Iowa

Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy’s Monarch Fueling Station this spring near Council Bluffs, Iowa.

A bee stops by the Monarch Fueling Station at the Kemin research farm in Story County.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association represents the state’s liquid renewable fuels industry and works to foster its growth. Iowa is the nation’s leader in renewable fuels production with 42 ethanol refineries capable of producing 4.5 billion gallons annually – including 34 million gallons of annual cellulosic ethanol production capacity – and 11 biodiesel facilities with the capacity to produce 410 million gallons annually. For more information, visit the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association website at: www.IowaRFA.org.

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