Illinois Officials Warning of Mystery Seeds From China

Hey, with the way things are going, I wouldn’t put anything past anyone…including our nation’s most feared rival sending random Americans packets of nefarious seeds!

It’s actually quite clever, if it actually turns out to be some sort of agricultural attack.

The Illinois Dept. of Agriculture asks if you received any seeds you did not order to contact them via email at [email protected] and tell them your name, phone number and number of packages received.

Apparently people all over the country were sent these seeds.

Everywhere from Washington…

We have received reports of people receiving seeds from China that they did not order. If you receive them – don’t plant them. Report to @USDA_APHIS at https://t.co/0U53rbAiHs pic.twitter.com/Y4yAKv5bk7

— WA St Dept of Agr (@WSDAgov) July 24, 2020

…to Louisiana.

Warning from Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) today about resident in St. Rose, La. receiving an unsolicited package of seeds originating from China. Similar reports from Utah, Virginia, Washington and the United Kingdom cited. Notify authorities if receive pic.twitter.com/MSkQ6TsIFJ

— Pam Smith (@PamSmithDTN) July 24, 2020

Sure, it may be some other type of scam, but it doesn’t take much of a stretch to imagine the harm done to animals and agriculture if the wrong types of plants make their way into our environment.

Better safe than sorry.

Click the Link Below to see the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Statement on Receiving Unsolicited Seeds in the Mail: https://t.co/elD5OwU38N

— IL Department of Ag (@ILAgriculture) July 28, 2020

This is the statement from the Illinois Department of Agriculture:

“We are currently working with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to address reports of unsolicited shipments of seeds from foreign countries. Anyone who receives unordered seeds in the mail should contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture by emailing the following information to [email protected]:
First and Last Name, Phone Number and the number of packages received.
Do not open the package, plant the seeds, or throw them out.
Please keep all seeds unopened and with their original packaging and labels, including mailing labels, until further instruction is provided.”