Green Garbonzo's & Energy Project's Effect

Green Garbonzo's & Energy Project's Effect plus Food Forethought. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. This is from the category of either you love them or hate them. A draft environmental study has found that four proposed wind energy projects on the north end of Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon would have little effect on its pristine high-desert beauty. Opponents, however, remain skeptical that roughly 200 wind turbines, some towering 415 feet above the juniper and sagebrush, wouldn't detract from the grandeur of the mountain and its wildlife. More than 20 groups in Oregon have voiced concern about the plans. Chickpeas or Garbanzo beans are usually though to be tan in color and used in salads or in making hummus but now it appears that idea is changing. Green is in according to Todd Scholz, Director of Info & Research for USA Dry Peas, Lentils and Chickpeas who says the idea is being developed by Idaho farmer Doug Moser. SCHOLZ: I think he kind of got the idea he could sell them similar to the way they're selling green soybeans or fresh soybeans and fresh peas and so he's been kind of pushing the effort and I think it has taken him several years to get some real interest. Green chickpeas are sweeter and more nutritional than the dried variety. Currently they're being sold in Costco stores. By spring, they could be the newest addition to Treasure Valley crops. Now with today's Food Forethought, here's Lacy Gray. Too bad there isn't a law against frivolous lawsuits. Last week the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine filed suit against the Food and Drug Administration for what they claim is a failure to label diabetes drugs with warnings telling patients that a plant based diet can be as effective or even better than medication in reducing blood glucose levels. According to Daniel Kinburn, general counsel to the PCRM, "A vegan diet is clearly safer and as effective as taking medicine". This particular activists group has a very important sounding title, but like the wolf in Little Riding Hood they are not what they pretend to be. An offshoot of PETA they are not made up of licensed physicians as their moniker would suggest; all the better to fool you, my dear. The group's lawsuit wants the FDA to be required to advise doctors and their patients that oral meds are not always necessary to manage diabetes; something any doctor worth his degree already discusses with his patients. By their own reasoning then the FDA should put labeling on all produce stating that daily vitamin and mineral requirements can also be found in beef, pork, chicken and dairy products. Thanks Lacy. That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.