The Evaluation of Integrated Weed Management Practices to Control Chicory Infestation in the Pastures and Hay Ground of Conventional and Organic Agricultural Operations

View the project final report

Commodities

Practices

• Crop Production: drought tolerance
• Education and Training: networking, on-farm/ranch research
• Farm Business Management: agritourism, value added
• Pest Management: weed ecology
• Production Systems: organic agriculture
• Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures

Chicory has grown in Lawrence County, South Dakota since at least the late 1800’s. Originally grown by European immigrants, chicory seeds were transported across the prairie for landscaping and to grow crops ultimately harvested into homemade chicory root coffee. Today, chicory is a cash crop in other areas of the country and the root is ground for human consumption in coffee, cereals, and nutrition bars.

From 2001 – 2018, Lawrence County, SD experienced nine years of extreme drought or below-normal precipitation. Chicory is drought tolerant with a deep tap root. In 2019, chicory was placed on the Lawrence County, South Dakota, noxious weeds list. In the valley where Three Heart Farm sits, the weed board’s concern is that the broad leaf plant is not native to the area and competes with other forages. Listed as a noxious weed prohibits the sale of hay containing seeded chicory. Two of three adjacent neighboring farms and ranches have annually applied post­ emergence herbicides which has limited effectiveness. The third neighbor does not apply herbicides. Instead, he attempts to control his chicory with cattle grazing which is also minimally effective. 

Three Heart Farm is an organic setting where alternative sustainable organic methods can be researched as positive alternatives to continuous ineffective herbicide applications. Our project approach is to research a variety of organic weed control strategies, demonstrating the most advantageous option(s) to sustaining the integrity of the prairie while meeting the state requirements of preventing noxious weeds from seeding. 

1. Apply and evaluate Integrated Weed Management practices to control chicory via methods that are readily­ achievable by small agriculture producers who do not want to apply herbicide to their land.
2. Three Heart Farm remains committed to long-term sustainable organic farming practices while complying with the state laws regarding the control of county noxious weeds.
3. Three Heart Farm will mow test plots at specific intervals and photograph/document chicory within each test plot.
4. Three Heart Farm will monitor the clover test plot and hand pull chicory growth for second year comparisons
5. Three Heart Farm will seed specific test plots with grass/clover/alfalfa to analyze the new growth and how it influences the growth of chicory.
6. Document livestock and free-range chicken foraging effects on chicory and the surrounding area.
7. The findings will be shared through social media and the education of agri-tourist guests.