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Some North Dakotans have received strange seed packages

People around the country – and here in North Dakota – have received packages of unsolicited foreign seeds.

The seeds appear to have originated in China.

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said he’s heard from at least 40 people who have received the seeds. And he said it’s various types of seed.

"Some of it looks like noxious weeds," Goehring said. "Some looks like birdseed, grain millet, all kinds of stuff."

Goehring said that is a concern.

"We don't know if there is a pathogen related to this, if it's a noxious or invasive weed," Goehing said. "We don't know if it's harmful to other plants, animals or humans."

Goehring said if you have received a pack of these seeds, don’t plant them – and contact the state Agriculture Department. Goehring said the Department will either have you send the seeds yourselves, or an envelope will be furnished for you, to send them in.

"We're going to do an analysis, and work with USDA and APHIS (Animal-Plant Health Inspection Service)," Goehring said. "We want to determine what's going on here."

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