University of Missouri (MU) Extension horticulturists ask the public not to plant unsolicited seeds received in the mail.MU Extension Horticulturist Kelly McGowan has had recent reports from Springfield-area residents who have been mailed seeds they did not order.MU Extension, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (www.aphis.usda.gov), Missouri Department of Agriculture and other state and federal agencies first issued alerts about this in 2020 when residents began receiving seeds of unknown origin.All agencies urge against planting seeds from unknown sources.“The seeds could introduce invasive species, pests, diseases, viruses and bacteria that could harm native plants, insects, crops and livestock,” said Mc-Gowan.In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warned that the shipments of mystery seeds could be part of a “brushing” campaign, a technique used to boost an e-commerce seller’s ratings through fake...