34 Story Idea? Email Paul.Nolan@Farms.com Better Farming | May/June 2024 flower), and AC Tristar (forage variety). Because fenugreek is a legume, it is capable of fixing nitrogen from the soil atmosphere with associated rhizobium. Experiments to find the best rhizobium strain include testing Sinorhizobium meliloti (Strain RGFU1) from Russia; however, there still needs to be more work in this area. Nitrogen requirements of fenugreek are probably close to that of lentil. Phosphorus is important for nodulation, flower and seed formation, and maturity. Fenugreek should be sown in early May on light, well-drained soil and on stubble to promote maturity. Dense stands often result in more uniform maturity. The seeding density is about 18 plants per metre of row in rows 15 to 30 cm (six to 12 inches) apart. Optimum density is 135 plants/sq. m (12 plants/sq. ft). Seedlings tend to emerge quickly after planting; however, the plants’ growth slows in the spring compared to many other legume crops. Wireworms and cutworms have been found to do damage to fenugreek. Grasshoppers are a pest in heavily infested years. Aphids and blister beetles can reduce the expected yield of fenugreek as well. Diseases of fenugreek include pythium species causing damping off, and other root rot pathogens such as Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Cercospora is probably the most problematic disease, causing damage to the leaves, stems, and pods. Occasionally powdery mildew occurs on fenugreek, but it’s not considered a serious problem. There are no seed treatments or foliar fungicides registered for fenugreek in Canada. Research at Agriculture and AgriFood Canada in Lethbridge, Alta. has shown fenugreek to have high yields of dry matter with about 16 to 18 per cent protein. Yields doubled under irrigation. The quality of fenugreek remains constant, even after blooming, for a longer period, giving producers more time to harvest it. One issue with fenugreek is that it has a strong odour that can sometimes discourage livestock from consuming it. When harvesting fenugreek for seed, it should be left in the field until fully mature, usually following a killing frost. Average dryland yields have reportedly been around 15 kg/ha (1,300 lb/ac). Yields as high as 2,800 kg/ha (2500 lb/ac) have been realized. More information can be found on these crops on the Saskatchewan Agriculture website: saskatchewan.ca/ government/government-structure/ ministries/agriculture. BF Ag Insights Attend Canada’s Farm Show Regina, SK for a chance to network with industry experts and potential employers to find out what it takes to launch your career in ag! LAUNCH YOUR CAREER IN AG Career Fair and Ag Talk Panel Thursday, June 20 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. CFS Launch Pad STUDENTS GET A FREE PASS! USE PROMO CODE: STUDENT24 canadasfarmshowreginask.ca DALE RISULA Dale Risula P.Ag., is a provincial specialist for specialty crops with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.
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