It depends on the composting process and the heat generated. Root knot nematodes are destroyed when compost temperatures exceed 111-118F. This is not very difficult to achieve even with home composting and most commercial composting operations generate temperatures well in excess of this. Also, many commercial composting operations are regulated to the extent that their finished product is tested to ensure it will not exceed maximum accepted levels of pesticide residue or pathogen content. While this will not necessarily exclude the nematodes, the "cooking" process should. I doubt you have much to worry about.

With the exception of sewage disposal plants very few of the composting operations I have seen are regulated in any way and the two or three that do advertise that their material is "state tested" have it tested for pH, which is all the University of Michigan does for them. The State of Michigan does not do any testing of soils, and probably many others also do not.
So could this commercial compost be infested with pests and diseases? Sure, but it does depend on how conscientous the processor is and what counts is knowing where your compost comes from.

Since the flap regarding chlopyralid a number of years ago, pretty much all commercial composting operations that sell their product (rather than give it away) are tested. The liability of possible lawsuits from pesticide contaminated compost is just too high.

With the exception of a few very persistant pesticides, like the one mentioned above, generating a sufficiently high heat during the composting process - which many commercial operations do very easily - will destroy nearly all pests and pathogens.

It is almost impossible to NOT reach a temp high enough to take care of almost every problem. Simply piling up the product will cause it to reach sufficient temp.

Be happy don't worry.

Thanks folks for the feedback. I appreciate ya.

Jay

gardengal, that may be done in your area but it is not general over the whole USA.

kimmsr, perhaps you have not heard of the US Composting Council. It is an organization of commercial composting operators dedicated to promoting the commercial composting industry and to provide uniformity to the industry and its product. Part of their advocacy is a testing and certification process that is endorsed by the EPA. In the just over 5 years since this organization's inception, some 140 commercial composting operations in 29 states participate in the STA testing and certification program.

So yes, testing of commercial compost is a bit more widespread than you believe. It's even done in your home state.

Here is a link that might be useful: USCC

New to this. Doesn't the high temps kill the worms???

riverbud are you asking about earthworms or nematodes (some people refer to them as wireworms)?
Earthworms are not a significant part of the composting process and if the material does heat up too much for them they will leave. The nematodes, good ones or bad ones, will be killed by relatively low heat in a compost pile, providing all of the material in the compost pile is subjected to those temperatures.
As I stated gardengal, not evey commercial composting operation is tested, certified, licensed, or much of anything else. 140 composting operations in 29 states does not even come close to being every composting operation. Around this area we have 5 commercial compost operations, that I know of, and several of the "landscape contractors", people that take care of other peoples yards and gardens, that take the grass clippings, shrub and tree prunings, deciduous tree leaves, and other yard waste off these peoples property, compost it and later sell it back to those people and none of them are certified, licensed, or tested.

Perhaps it's more direct just to conclude that we can ask the specific compost manufacturer about their testing methods and possible affiliations with organizations in the composting industry? I'd definitely want to for the simple reason that if there were anything harmful in compost from a manufacturer involved with this council, I might possibly have recourse or at least an opportunity to report this manufacturer to the council.

I'm pleased to say that at a SUPER WAL-MART of all places, I found a well-made LOCAL product line of topsoil, composted manure, and mushroom compost among all the other things they sell. The toll-free number was on the bag and the folks at this company answered my questions when I called them.

kimmsr-Thanks for ansewering. I guess I had better read all posts before going on. I was under the impresion that earthworms were mandatory to composting.

bigbubba, both you and the OP have a bit of an advantage, as Texas has a very active participation in the USCC and offers more commercial composting facilities and products approved under their testing and certification program than any other state. I wouldn't think finding a quality, tested commercial compost would be too difficult - perhaps even the one you have already purchased.