Taking Some Heat and Beware the Scammers

Taking Some Heat and Beware the Scammers plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Ag secretary Tom Vilsack is catching heat from farm-state Republicans for backing the House cap-and-trade climate legislation.  Kansas Congressman Jerry Moran says he doesn’t think Vilsack understands the negative side for farmers.

MORAN: "We’ve seen the secretary as late as this week talking about the future support by the government of agriculture is going to occur in the environmental arena that cap and trade payments are the future of agriculture.  So, I think they’ve reached the conclusion that cap and trade is a good thing. And yet the analysis, what I hear and see doesn’t support that position."

If you're an Oregon Ducks fan looking for Rose Bowl tickets…listen up!  The scammers are looking for you and they make it look very official too. Scammers have been using online ads from companies like Craigslist to get people's attention with some plausible story, then they direct them to an official but bogus company for payment.  At least one unfortunate Ducks fan has found himself on the line for $150 after he responded to a listing for the much sought after tickets.  If in doubt…don’t.

Now with today’s Food Forethought, here’s Lacy Gray.

As the holidays inch closer and closer I feel the urgent need to bake.  Not just your run of the mill baked goods, these have to be family recipes handed down through the generations.  Tried, true and delicious. I’m obviously not the only one who has this yearly need to make a connection with our ancestors via the kitchen. The other day at work several of us were sharing some of our family holiday favorites; one gal of German descent always makes potato dumplings with sauerkraut, another with Norwegian roots talked about making potato cakes.  As for me, I’m planning on making Grandma’s Swedish coffee ring.  My eighty-nine year old mother-in-law still has this strong urge to cook at this time of year and is planning to whip up some kolache, a Czech pastry with fruit in their dimpled centers.  Christmas time wouldn’t be the same without them. So, don’t worry about all the Grinchy food police who say that all of us, including Santa, should chow on carrots instead of cookies.  Go ahead and enjoy your baking, enjoy your holidays, and enjoy the warmth of having family close.  Past and present.   

Thanks Lacy. That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.