The Briefing Room
General Category => National/Breaking News => Topic started by: libertybele on July 28, 2020, 01:00:27 am
-
People in several states mailed unsolicited packets of seeds that may be from China, officials say
Officials in several states said residents have reported receiving unsolicited packages of seeds in the mail that appear to be sent from China and are urging the public not to plant them.
The agriculture departments in Washington, Louisiana, Kansas and Virginia have recently issued statements warning residents that the seeds may be invasive or otherwise harmful to local plants or livestock. People in Utah, Arizona and Ohio have also reported receiving the mysterious packages, local news outlets reported.
Some of the packages were labeled as jewelry and may have Chinese writing on them, according to agriculture officials.
Lori Culley, who lives in Tooele, Utah, told Fox 13 she was excited to find two small packages in her mailbox that appeared to contain earrings.
“I opened them up and they were seeds,†Culley said. “Obviously they’re not jewelry.â€
Culley told the outlet she posted about the strange incident on Facebook, and “at least 40 people†reached out to her saying something similar happened to them.
Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, asked residents to notify his department if they receive unsolicited packages of seeds, he said in a statement Friday.
“Right now, we are uncertain what types of seeds are in the package,†Strain said. "We need to identify the seeds to ensure they do not pose a risk to Louisiana’s agricultural industry or the environment.â€
The Washington State Department of Agriculture warned residents not to plant or open the sealed packages and urged them to report the incident, known as "agricultural smuggling" to the U.S. Agriculture Department in a statement. The USDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. ..............
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/27/unsolicited-packets-seeds-may-mailed-china-states-warn/5516852002/ (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/07/27/unsolicited-packets-seeds-may-mailed-china-states-warn/5516852002/)
-
I've seen this before! They're magic beans, capable of growing a stalk that reaches up into the cloud, where there be Giants.
Be careful out there, everybody.....
-
This is some creepy stuff. I wouldn't put it past the Chicoms sending bio-weapons this way.
Our local news states that if you get a packet, contact USDA.
-
I've seen this before! They're magic beans, capable of growing a stalk that reaches up into the cloud, where there be Giants.
Be careful out there, everybody.....
Sure but where else can I get me an enchanted goose?
-
I've seen this before! They're magic beans, capable of growing a stalk that reaches up into the cloud, where there be Giants.
Be careful out there, everybody.....
(https://i.imgur.com/mPBmyE2.gif)
-
(https://i.imgur.com/mPBmyE2.gif)
Nooooo! My sister and I (about 7 & 5 years old) saw that movie and had nightmares about the "tree monster" for years!
-
Sure but where else can I get me an enchanted goose?
@skeeter
Attend the "right" parties,and that is sure to happen.
-
Monday, July 27, 2020
Agricultural smuggling - a threat to farms, gardens, and our ecosystem
Karla Salp
Communications
WSDA received a report of seeds mailed from China that the recipient did not order.
On Friday, July 24, WSDA received two separate reports of residents receiving seeds from China that they did not order. The package labeling indicated that jewelry was inside, but instead the residents found seeds.
We have also received reports of people who purchased seeds from an online retailer thinking the seeds were from the United States, only to learn when the package arrived in the mail (also usually listing something other than seeds on the mailing labels) that the seeds were from another country.
Avoiding plant import regulations and bypassing customs (for example, by mislabeling a package and identifying its contents as something else) to get plant material into the United States is known as agricultural smuggling and is not only illegal, but poses a serious threat to our farms, gardens, animals, and environment.
They could be invasive. Some plants are not allowed to enter the country because they are known to be invasive, and could outcompete native plants.
They could harbor pests and diseases. Plants and seeds can have insect or disease pests that could devastate native plants that have no defense against them. This could lead to the loss of plants or require increased pesticide use to manage.
They could harm livestock. Some plants are toxic to livestock and other animals – even humans. If they are planted, they could be harmful to livestock and other animals. ...
More from Washington Dept. of Agriculture (https://wastatedeptag.blogspot.com/2020/07/seedsfrom.html)
-
Nooooo! My sister and I (about 7 & 5 years old) saw that movie and had nightmares about the "tree monster" for years!
I thought I had to be the only kid in the world who had recurring tree monster nightmares.
-
China plant seeds mystery solved? Police, officials think packages sent to US homes could be tied to scam reviews
(https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2020/07/1862/1048/china-seeds-Ohio-Dept-of-Agriculture.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
https://www.foxnews.com/us/china-plant-seeds-mystery-us-homes (https://www.foxnews.com/us/china-plant-seeds-mystery-us-homes)
-
Nooooo! My sister and I (about 7 & 5 years old) saw that movie and had nightmares about the "tree monster" for years!
What really creeped me out was
(https://i.imgur.com/hgwWrly.jpg)
-
We got a packet the other day. I had ordered some seeds from an American Co. a couple of months ago. threw these right out.