Wildflower Strips in Apple Orchards Save Farmers Thousands While Boosting Biodiversity
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: Planting perennial wildflower strips in apple orchards can save farmers up to $4,010 per hectare by attracting beneficial insects that naturally control pest populations.
📈 One key stat: Adding wildflower strips to apple orchards can increase the harvest of undamaged fruits by 2,420 kilograms per hectare, representing a 6.9% boost in marketable yield.
💬 One key quote: “Farmers could save money while boosting biodiversity and letting nature do some of the heavy lifting in looking after their crops,” Charlotte Howard, lead author of the study from the University of Reading, said in a statement.
1️⃣ The big picture: A new study from the University of Reading reveals that planting strips of perennial wildflowers in apple orchards provides significant economic benefits to farmers. By attracting natural predators like ladybirds, hoverflies, and lacewings, these flower strips help control pests such as the rosy apple aphid that damage fruit crops. Researchers analyzed data from 10 conventional apple orchards in southeastern England, comparing pest damage between farms with and without flower strips. Their findings show that this natural pest control method can save farmers thousands of dollars per hectare while simultaneously increasing biodiversity on their farms.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: This approach offers a win-win solution for both farmers and the environment. Flower strips provide a cost-effective alternative to chemical pesticides, helping farmers save up to $4,010 per hectare during high pest infestation periods. The strategy improves crop yields by reducing pest damage, with undamaged fruit increasing by nearly 7%. Beyond immediate economic benefits, these wildflower areas create crucial habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators, enhancing overall farm biodiversity. The method also promotes more sustainable farming practices that work with natural processes rather than against them.
3️⃣ What’s next: Based on the promising results, researchers have compiled an educational guide for UK farmers interested in implementing flower strips in their own orchards. Scientists plan to continue studying additional benefits of planting flower strips beyond pest control. Farmers can now evaluate different planting scenarios to determine which approach works best for their specific orchard conditions.
Read the full story here: EcoWatch – Planting Flower Strips in Apple Orchards Could Save Farmers Up to $4K (£3K) per Hectare, Study Finds
