Naming Rights, Pear Site & Gaining Control

Naming Rights, Pear Site & Gaining Control plus Food Forethought. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Pear Bureau Northwest has launched “Pear World,” its new online destination for elementary school-age children.  The website, found under the “Kids and Classroom” section of usapears.org, brings the pear orchard to life to engage and educate children about pears, and encourages families to include pears as they strive to make half their plate fruits and vegetables as recommended by the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the USDA’s MyPlate initiative.

We’ve all seen major companies pay for the rights to add their name to buildings like sports arenas. But what about the rights to roads and expressways? Washington State House Bill 1051 would allow companies to purchase naming rights to state highways, bridges, view points and rest stops. Under the bill the state Transportation Commission would approve and set rates for naming. Funds could be used to offset construction costs or the need for tolls.

Is the U.S. government “loving the forests to death?” Utah Representative Ken Ivory thinks they are with conservation policies that don’t work. He is lobbying for states out west to gain control of federal lands like many states do in the east. Idaho’s legislature is looking into the idea.

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

You probably rolled your eyes at her, but Mom was doing you a big favor when she plopped that bowl of oatmeal down in front of you. Oats are good for you. The health benefits of of oats are many. The Whole Grains Council has listed out just a few of them on their website - oats increase appetite control hormones, reduce bad cholesterol, aide digestion, help to improve immune system defenses, and help control blood pressure. Quite a list, and that’s just a few of the benefits of eating oats. Oats can also be used on the outside as part of a facial scrub or poultice. Finding a way to eat oats other than just in oatmeal form isn’t hard either. How about serving up some “spicy oat crusted chicken”, or perhaps using oats as part of your meatloaf or hamburger mixture. There are also numerous bread recipes that include oats, and of course an all time favorite - oatmeal raisin cookies. However you like your oats, rest assured, you’re doing yourself and your loved ones a big favor whenever you serve up oats, as they have more protein and healthy fats and lower carbohydrates than many other whole grains. And by the way, happy National Oatmeal Month.

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