Ag department issues seed warning

Don’t plant the mystery seeds.

That’s the message from the United States Department of Agriculture as reports of unsolicited seed packages arrive at nervous doorsteps across the country.

“I can tell you what USDA is thinking … (T)hey think this is part of a brushing scam, which is the marketing scam where (a company) creates fake reviews to boost their credibility on whatever selling platform that they are using,” said Katie Laney, assistant director of feed, seed, and fertilizer at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

But ag officials are also warning the seeds, which have been reported in all 50 states in the past month, could be more than a marketing ploy.

New Mexico’s ag department said in a news release last week that the unidentified seeds “could be a pathway for introductions of new invasive plant species and new plant diseases to the state.”

The packages, being mailed under the guise of jewelry items appearing to come from China, were first reported in Washington state about a month ago.

Laney said New Mexico ag officials have received about 180 reports of the seeds. They’re asking the packages be mailed to NMDA.

“As of (Wednesday) we have only received one package to the office. I’m hoping more are on the way,” she said.

Mason Grau, Curry County’s ag agent, said at least one local resident has reported receiving seeds. Grau said there are likely more cases in the area.

USDA reports it has been monitoring the situation alongside the Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protections and state agencies to stop what is viewed as a form of agricultural smuggling.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, said in a briefing last week that the China postal system strictly prohibits seeds being sent by mail as imports. Wenbin added that the China postal system verified the labels on the packages as fakes with “erroneous layouts and entries.”