Mike Pearson takes a look at the possibility that the Monarch butterfly could be placed on the threatened species list and how it will impact farmers.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is moving forward to put the Monarch butterfly on the threatened species list.

The proposal comes after years of research numbers. The number of Monarch butterfly has plummeted since the 1980's. The Monarch population has decline by 80 percent in east and 90 percent in the west.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the Monarch is iconic and is a resilient species that needs a chance.

If the Monarch is placed on the threatened species list, it gives more flexibility than an endangered species list.

The agency also seeks to protect 4,400 acres along the California coast that is critical in the migratory pathway. It's important for the butterflies to fly between Canada and Mexico every year.

The timeline for the proposal would make it official at the end of 2025.

Currently, a 90-day public comment period is open to the public with a final decision by the U.S. Wildlife Service in December next year.

Additional protections will be phased in after that.

The American Farm Bureau Federation says the proposal does not include penalties for farmers to perform weed control, or provide punishment for incidental kills like hitting butterflies with a vehicle or grass management. The proposal would allow most farming operations to continue.

Related:Farm Progress America, Jan. 24, 2025

And the proposal highlights the conservation work farmers are already doing by encouraging habitats and milkweed growth.

But not everyone see it that way-- some see it as federal overreach and a way to stop economic growth in rural areas.

Conservations say they trust the milkweed farmers are trying to establish again after its initial decline and hope it will help the Monarch butterfly to survive.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.