Texas Ag Commissioner does not support relisting the monarch butterfly: “We’re not the problem”

“It doesn’t matter what we do in Canada or the United States, it’s not going to help the monarch population.”

A conservation group says that monarch butterfly populations fell dramatically last year, claiming they counted 96% fewer butterflies than the previous year.

Federal officials are now taking action to extend protections for the species yet again. However, Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller says that is not the best solution.

According to Commissioner Miller, “You know I love the monarch butterfly. Who doesn’t? They’re beautiful and, you know, we see them through central Texas all the time. They come from all the way down from Canada through the Central Flyway, which is the Great Plains down into Mexico. Now, this is the second time that federal fish and wildlife have proposed to putting them on the threatened list, and they are declining numbers. But it’s a kind of a stupid way to do it in my opinion. It doesn’t matter what we do in Canada or the United States, it’s not going to help the monarch population. We’re not the problem.”

The commissioner says that the true issue lies in Mexico, where a valuable monarch butterfly habitat has been destroyed.

“There’s a certain mountain east of Mexico City that has these special fir trees on it and that’s where they overwinter,” Miller explains. “The problem is because of deforestation, there’s only 2% of that forest left. So, if you want to save the monarchs, plant some more fir trees.”

Commissioner Miller says that home-raised monarchs, like the ones used for school projects, can also be problematic. He warns that home-raised butterflies mix with natives and can ultimately mess up their migration patterns.

Related Stories
One skillet, five ingredients and a few minutes are all you need to get this spiced up hash on the table!
“We found common sense ways to keep endangered species safe that won’t place unneeded burden on the growers...”
The late Barbara Mazurek is the definition of a FarmHER.
“These regulations, what we’re doing and what it does it just adds cost and burdens to our ag producers as they’re trying to feed, fuel and clothe the world.”

Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Farm Traveler is for people who want to connect with their food and those who grow it. Thanks to direct-to-consumer businesses, agritourism, and social media, it’s now easier than ever to learn how our food is made and support local farmers. Here on the Farm Traveler, we want to connect you with businesses offering direct-to-consumer products you can try at home, agritourism sites you can visit with your family, and exciting new technologies that are changing how your food is being grown.
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
RFD-TV has partnered with a handful of agricultural social media influencers whom we have dubbed The New Crop. These folks have taken to the internet to tell their stories and to raise awareness of where our food comes from and all that goes into feeding the world population.
The goal of “Where the Food Comes From” is as simple as its name implies — host Chip Carter takes you along on the journey of where our food comes from — and we don’t just mean to the supermarket (though that’s part of the big picture!). But beyond where it comes from, how it gets there, and all the links in the chain that make that happen.