Rust Ranch

At Rust Ranch, the predominant land cover is forested woodlands, which are leased for hunting. We are focusing our monarch restoration efforts on 36 acres of open pasture in an area that has a history of overgrazing.

Baseline habitat assessments using the Monarch Habitat Quantification Tool indicated a lack of milkweed abundance at the site. To improve habitat quality for monarchs, land management activities will include a combination of mowing, to reduce competition from grasses, and planting milkweeds.

The Exchange has contracted with a grower who has propagated milkweeds from locally harvested seeds. Using local ecotype seeds is important when planting milkweeds, since the plants evolved in similar environmental conditions and will therefore have a higher likelihood of successful establishment.

The plan is to plant milkweed plugs in the fall of 2018.

Kevin Rust tries to implement at least one project to improve the health of his land each year and the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Exchange gives him the perfect opportunity to continue this practice. He is particularly excited about the benefits that this project will have on soil health and on the management of invasive vegetation.