Tractor Supply bales of alfalfa as a green

I live on a lake so I don’t use fertilizer nor herbicide in my yard.  I have no grass, just weeds, so I can’t use clippings for the greens.  I bought a bale of Tractor Supply alfalfa to mix with my leaves. When I got home, I started wondering what they (the farmers)  might have sprayed on the alfalfa.  Anybody know how this is grown and do you think there are any systemic herbicides that might have been used in the growing process? In the past I have used my yard clippings for my compost and have had 150 degree plus temperatures and still had weed seed issues.

toledobend, the only one who is going to know how the alfalfa was grown is the farmer who grew it. You would have to ask the supplier if they do anything to the alfalfa. Weeds are an excellent green for composting if harvested before seeds are formed. Many weeds are nutrient accumulators, identify the weed and then you can google any benefits. Coffee grounds although brown are an excellent green for the compost pile. Compost should be made by ingredients that are basically free and easily obtainable. Hot composting only minimizes weeds. Weed seeds blown in by the wind or transported in bird poo can and will show up from time to time. Because weeds especially those that grow in your soil, if identified will tell you much about the condition and nutrient content of your soil. There is usually no better place than a compost pile for weeds to grow and flourish. Weeds are the smart plants and grow with very little help from us. I now grow many weeds and take credit, Green is Green.

Tree leaves can be composted by themselves and are an excellent compost, just takes a wee bit longer for the process but after the initial delay you should have a steady supply going forward.

I buy Organic Alfalfa Pellets from Tractor Supply Company when I need additional nitrogen to add to compost to ensure it gets hot enough. They are certified Organic and GMO-Free, so they would not contain any pesticides or herbicides that I would not want into my gardens.

Standlee Premium Organic Alfalfa Pellets

I also use mowed alfalfa hay as a green, as well as alfalfa pellets. It's just faith that they weren't sprayed.

OhioGardener wrote:I buy Organic Alfalfa Pellets from Tractor Supply Company when I need additional nitrogen to add to compost to ensure it gets hot enough. They are certified Organic and GMO-Free, so they would not contain any pesticides or herbicides that I would not want into my gardens.

Standlee Premium Organic Alfalfa Pellets

Me also.