Introducing Chicory Plus

By WHITETAIL INSTITUTE STAFF

The first chicory genetically selected specifically for whitetails

The word “chicory” has become a “buzz” word lately in the world of food plots. Over the past two or three years, chicory products have been showing up all over the place. The Whitetail Institute first began using chicory in food plot blends two years ago as a component of Extreme – the ultra-drought resistant perennial food plot product designed for poor soils. Last year, chicory showed up again in the new Alfa-Rack Plus product. But long before chicory started appearing in these new mixes, the research staff at the Whitetail Institute was testing and evaluating every chicory variety available.

Even before the chicory hype hit the scene, researchers at the Institute knew chicory could play a valuable role in deer management. But like other forages that find their way into deer food plot blends, all varieties and types of chicory do not necessarily make a good deer forage. In the tests conducted at the Whitetail Institute, some chicory varieties worked well, some OK and some did not perform at all. The chicory varieties that performed the best were the types incorporated into Extreme and Alfa-Rack Plus products. But the chicory component in these blends was not the main forage type of the blends—it acted as a complementary forage type to the main forage. To introduce a product based primarily on chicory, our research staff wanted to take the testing to the next level.

So in adherence to the Whitetail Institute philosophy of only offering the best forage types available, the Institute began work on genetic selection of chicory. The culmination of this research led to the development of the first chicory type genetically selected specifically for deer. This variety is called WINA-100 Brand Chicory, the backbone of the new Whitetail Institute perennial product, Chicory Plus.

I have found that even though people are talking about and planting chicory plots, many know very little about the plant. So, before we take a more in-depth look at Chicory Plus, I would like to discuss the chicory plant in more detail.

First, as previously mentioned, there are many chicory types, much like there are many types of clover. Chicory first showed up in the U.S. in the 18th Century as an import from Europe. Some varieties now grow naturally in abundance across the U.S. Chicory has a spade shaped leaf and the plant itself, if uncut or ungrazed, can grow up to three feet tall, producing a blue or violet flower.

In fact, some types of chicory are planted as flowers. In most cases, chicory will last multiple years with a single planting. It has been used as a forage crop for domestic livestock with some success, and the chicory root has often been used as a coffee substitute.

Chicory is also very high in protein. It can be as high as 44 percent protein. One of the more valuable attributes of chicory is its deep-growing taproot. This deep root system makes chicory extremely drought tolerant and able to stay green and productive when drought conditions have eliminated other forage types.

The disadvantage of most chicory types is that the leaves are often bitter and unpalatable. Also, chicories typically have a waxy, leather-like leaf that is especially unpalatable to deer. In studies we have conducted at the Whitetail Institute, many of the chicory varieties we tested were not even used by deer.

So in the development of WINA-100 Chicory, the Whitetail Institute research staff’s main objective was to produce the most attractive chicory possible to deer while maintaining the high protein content and drought resistance. Through genetic selection, a chicory type was found that had a leaf with virtually none of the waxy characteristics found in most chicory types. We began testing this chicory type for nutrient content, drought tolerance and especially palatability. A chemical analysis of the chicory type produced a protein level of slightly over 44%. In the drought tolerance test, this new chicory type performed exceptionally well. And finally, the deer absolutely loved it. It was this chicory type that became the backbone of WINA-100 Chicory.

Chicory Plus is a combination of WINA-100 Chicory and Imperial Whitetail Clover, the number one clover for food plots... When experimenting with several blend options, researchers at the Whitetail Institute found that Imperial Whitetail Clover made an excellent companion to the main component, WINA-100 Chicory. When combined, they make Chicory Plus a very versatile and adaptable food plot planting. This is because the soil type preference for WINA-100 Chicory is well-drained to slightly heavy soils and Imperial Whitetail Clover performs best in heavier soils that hold moisture. So if you are planting a field that has the characteristic of holding moisture at some times of the year while becoming drier in other times of the year, Chicory Plus is a perfect product to use as it can adapt to these conditions.

For instance, say you are planting a food plot that typically stays moist in the spring and early summer but during the later summer months, because of heat and lack of rain, begins to dry out. Chicory Plus would be an excellent choice for this type of food plot. Another example would be a field that has different types of soil characteristics. Certain parts of the field have a heavier soil while other areas tend to be well drained. Again, Chicory Plus will adapt well to these conditions.

Yet another Chicory Plus application would be for people who live in an area where excessive heat and lack of rain tends to temporarily slow clover growth in the hot, dry summer months – common in much of the South. Chicory Plus, because of WINA-100 Chicory, can continue going strong during the excessively hot and droughty time frame until the clover is rejuvenated with cooler and wetter weather. It is important to note that Imperial Whitetail Clover is one of the most drought tolerant clover blends available and its growth is slowed only during cases of extreme heat and drought.