Agriculture officials in multiple states, including Montana, have issued warnings about unsolicited shipments of foreign seeds and advised people not to plant them.
The Montana Department of Agriculture says it’s received multiple reports of residents receiving unsolicited seed packets sent by mail that appeared to have originated in China.
The department writes in a press release the types of seeds are unknown and could be invasive, posing a potential threat to local plants and livestock.
The department stresses the seed packages should NOT be opened or planted, and asks people who receive packages like this to contact the state seed program at (406) 444-3950 or bballensky@mt.gov.
The department is awaiting official guidance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture about how to safely dispose the mailed materials.