Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture has received reports of residents who have been mailed unsolicited foreign seeds not clearly labeled as seeds. The seed shipments may be obscured as jewelry items. This type of international shipment of seeds is unlawful under state and federal regulations. The seeds are unknown and could be a pathway for introductions of new invasive plant species and new plant diseases to the state.
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture has received reports of residents who have been mailed unsolicited foreign seeds not clearly labeled as seeds. The seed shipments may be obscured as jewelry items.
If you receive one of these seed packets, the New Mexico Department of Agriculture asks you not to plant them.
If the seed has been planted, collect the seed before germination or destroy any emerging plants.
The agency is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture, Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection, other federal agencies and other state departments of agriculture to investigate.
This type of international shipment of seeds is unlawful under state and federal regulations.
The seeds are unknown and could be a pathway for introductions of new invasive plant species and new plant diseases to New Mexico.
NMDA asks anyone who has received one of the unsolicited foreign shipments to save all shipping labels, packaging and seeds and contact the New Mexico Department of Agriculture at [email protected] (photographs encouraged), or by phone at (575) 646-3007. Do not plant seeds from unknown origins.
New Mexico residents have not violated any regulations if they have received these shipments, but they are the key to identifying and stopping future ones.
Send seeds and associated shipping materials to NMDA at this address:
New Mexico Department of Agriculture
Laboratory Division
Attn: Tim Darden
MSC 3-LD/P.O. Box 30005
3190 S. Espina St.
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8005