Micheal Clements, NAFB News Service

A group of lawmakers offers thanks to the Department of Agriculture for diligently investigating unsolicited seeds sent to U.S. residents. Led by Representative Jodey Arrington, a Texas Republican, a group of 20 lawmakers sent a bipartisan letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue this week. The letter thanks USDA for their collaboration at the local, state, and federal level and continuing efforts to protect the nation’s food security. The letter states, “We encourage USDA to take seriously the potential risks associated with the illegal entry of these seeds as the agency carries out its security and bioterrorism preparedness efforts.” The lawmakers urge USDA to “continue collaborating with all relevant agencies to develop a plan of action to improve the detection of potential bioterrorism threats.” The unsolicited seeds, sent to residents of the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere, are thought to be part of a brushing scam that sellers use to boost reviews for products online.