NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IDENTIFIES MYSTERIOUS SEEDS

Mysterious seeds that started making their way into New Mexico mid July, have been identified. The New Mexico Department of Agriculture Laboratory Division’s State Seed Lab has identified 224 seed packets. Four of the packets have been identified all as noxious weeds to New Mexico. The Department says if you’re a recipient of one of the seed packets, to not plant them. If the seed has been plated, collect the seed prior to germination or destroy any emerging plants. Although the NMDA will no longer identify or catalog the unsolicited foreign seed packets, they will hold them for the USDA to take possession of. The USDA plans to perform a more extensive investigation. Individuals who have received unsolicited foreign shipments are asked to save all shipping labels, packaging and seeds. Unsolicited seeds packets should still be reported to NMDA through the form on the homepage at www.nmda.nmsu.edu.