Planting wildflowers in apple orchards could save farmers up to £3,000 per hectare a year, according to a new study.
Flower strips create a home for a team of helpful insects – like ladybirds, hoverflies, and lacewings – that eat harmful pests such as aphids. This natural team of pest controllers helps keep apple trees healthy with less need for chemical sprays.
This study, published today in the Journal of Agricultural Economics, builds on previous research from a University of Reading team that found flower strips can reduce damage from pests (rosy apple aphids) by up to 32% in bad pest years. CONTINUE READING