China Mystery Seeds Invade Texas

Unsolicited mystery seed packages from China are flooding Texas mailboxes, posing a dire biosecurity threat that could devastate the state’s vital agriculture sector under porous federal borders.

Story Snapshot

Texas Department of Agriculture intercepted over 120 packages in early January 2026 alone, totaling more than 1,200 in recent months.
Commissioner Sid Miller warns of invasive species, pests, pathogens, or worse, urging residents not to plant but report to TDA hotline.
Packages contain unidentified seeds, sometimes liquids or plants, linked to e-commerce giants like Temu and TikTok exploiting U.S. mail vulnerabilities.
Federal escalation involves USDA and Homeland Security amid U.S.-China tensions, highlighting Customs failures.

TDA Intercepts Surge of Mystery Packages

Texas Department of Agriculture collected 1,101 packages from 109 locations since February 2025, when the first report surfaced in Clute with seeds and unknown liquid. Early January 2026 saw over 120 interceptions in two weeks, pushing totals beyond 1,200. Commissioner Sid Miller coordinates TDA’s response, protecting Texas’s $200 billion agriculture industry from potential ruin. Residents, often prior e-commerce buyers, receive these unsolicited items through direct-ship mail flaws.

Biosecurity Risks Escalate Beyond Past Scams

Unlike 2020 brushing scams for fake reviews, current packages include liquids raising fears of pathogens like COVID variants, anthrax, or cholera. TDA confirms some noxious weeds; testing continues with USDA APHIS for destruction. Miller states one invasive species could devastate farms, framing this resurgence—starting mid-2025—as more sinister. Texas faces higher volumes than Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, or Alabama, straining state resources amid national vulnerabilities.

Miller Pushes Federal Action on Border Weaknesses

Sid Miller met D.C. officials, drawing Homeland Security into probing shipment sources and Customs screening gaps. Packages arrive faster than ever, tied to Chinese e-commerce data harvesting. TDA advises baking seeds at 350-400°F for 30 minutes if not reporting via 1-800-TELL-TDA. This exposes government overreach failures in securing borders against foreign threats, endangering family farms and food supply—core conservative values now under siege.

Texas farmers and ranchers risk crop devastation; gardeners must avoid casual disposal. Political pressure mounts for mail and Customs reforms, scrutinizing platforms like Temu and TikTok. Long-term ecosystem damage looms without swift action, underscoring President Trump’s needed focus on America First protections against globalist import risks.