So I was trying to source some alfalfa and called the local feed store. I had the most interesting conversation with the owner. He told me that unless the alfalfa is "certified organic", all alfalfa products have been treated with some sort of mold killer. This being because farmers take their product to distribution centers where all the different farmer's product gets mixed together. It's then treated with the mold killer. This is to protect animals that are fed the product from deleterious health effects from any mold that might be in the feed. So mold killer makes it not organic. I can get over that. Most of what goes into my compost pile in not organic. But I'm concerned about the residual effect that the mold killer may have on the healthy growth of microbes that we work so hard to propagate. This is concerning alfalfa products in the U.S.A. Having said all that, what say you all out there who are using "non-certified organic" alfalfa meal/pellets in your compost piles and soil mixes? Replies based on long term usage would be prefered. But all comments are welcome! BTW- What is the correct terminology for "mold killers". You know, like fungicide or herbicide. Thanks to all, WAK
Most time the "mold killer" is a simple treatment of elemental sulphur. Im not going to say that all products are the same and treated the same. But like you said looking for certified organic is always superior in choice. But its not always too much of a difference. The real difference is in the price. I purchased a 20# bag of dr earth alfalfa for $25, and i think i only used a few pounds or so. Before you decide to purchase so much weigh your odds of the amount you do or dont need. SD
waktoo, the correct terminology is "fungicide". In the future you may consider purchasing certified organic horse feed or rabbit feed that is primarily alfalfa based and contain only other protein and amino based fillers that when rightfully converted from "protein value" to "nitrogen value" will provide your plants a very wide range of valuable and certified organic minerals and elements. Certified forage feed produced by certified organic farms can be safely trusted to meet the requirements of "certified organic". If the alfalfa meal/feed is not certified organic and if the alfalfa was improperly harvested such that molds could be a problem and a fungicide deemed necessary then it would not be sulphur used to treat the mold. There are many types of acid based formulae that are used to treat for molds in forage foods and there are many types of preservatives used to prevent the mold and bacteria from doing damage to the forage. One set of protocols for prevention and another set of protocols for cure. Stick with "certified organic" forage feeds and that should eliminate any concerns one might have about added harmful chemicals to the ammendment they add to the soil. If that is the greatest concern.
Organic alfalfa is ever harder to find because our illustrious leaders sold out to line their pockets. Obama Believed to Be Behind GMO Alfalfa Push | Rodale News Forward . . . . .
Yet were still stupid enough to give him 4 more years to wreck the country. Offer enough "free stuff" and you don't even need the KY or a kiss. Wet
There is a pelletized organic alfalfa product sold by Azure Standard: http://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/13444/