By Blake Jackson
Rebecca Stup ’23, MS ’26, a master’s student at Cornell University, is conducting innovative research under the guidance of Antonio DiTommaso, a weed ecologist and director of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station (Cornell AES).
Their work explores how planting wildflower strips along farmland can enhance biodiversity, attract pollinators, and suppress weeds an increasingly important topic as pollinator populations decline and herbicide-resistant weeds spread.
Stup’s research focuses on comparing weed and insect communities in different types of field margins: untreated, herbicide-sprayed, and those seeded with native wildflowers. Her goal is to identify strategies that promote ecosystem health while reducing weed–crop competition.
“Lots of people dream of owning a small farm and starting a farm business but aren’t sure where to get started or if farming is right for them,” said Stup, reflecting on the growing interest in sustainable agriculture.
Studies, particularly in Europe, have shown that wildflower strips improve pollination, natural pest control, and soil stability. Stup’s research supports these findings, showing that wildflower strips increase bee presence significantly from nearly zero in unmanaged areas to as many as 4.7 bees per 3x5 meter quadrant.
The flowers also attract birds, small mammals, and beneficial insects like ground beetles that consume weed seeds.
Concerns about wildflowers becoming weeds themselves have proven unfounded. “Black-eyed Susans can spread, but in conventionally managed fields, they don’t pose a problem,” Stup noted. Her data also indicates that wildflower strips do not serve as reservoirs for weeds.
To make adoption easier, Stup’s team is developing seed pellets compatible with standard planting equipment, and the USDA offers funding and technical assistance to support pollinator-friendly practices.
“Within two years, if managed properly, the perennial wildflowers establish and out-compete aggressive weeds,” Stup said. She also noted an unexpected discovery native plants like milkweed thriving in wildflower plots. “It’s encouraging to see ecological succession taking hold, creating habitats that support biodiversity on working farms.”
Photo Credit: istock-kerem-hanci
Categories: New York, Education, General, Rural Lifestyle