Mike Weaver is the president of the Organization for Competitive Markets, a group that supports small and medium size farms and meat producers in the face of the consolidation of American agriculture. In this episode he describes the difficulty of competing with mega agribusiness; key changes for the upcoming negotiations to the farm bill, and the failure of legislators to support small and medium scale farming.

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Understanding what really needs to be fixed to revive american agriculture seems to be more about policy than what we grow and how we grow it. Anti trust legislation, agricultural reform, and a better farm bill would go a long way toward addressing the many issues that face american agriculture. I am trying to make sense of all the things I have learned in the past decade.

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Board member and lobbyist for the National Dairy Producers Organization, Gary Genske threads the needle on why the industry is falling apart and how Dairy Farmers of America and the USDA are presiding over a colossal industry failure that puts small and medium size dairy farmers at risk for economic losses and more, including a record number of suicides.

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Gary Hirshberg is a pioneer in developing a national market for an organic commodity, milk. His company began producing yogurt in 1985, after being a farming school for a few years. What is the future of organic dairy, and how did they achieve the immense success that has made the company a national bestseller. What can current dairy farmers learn from Stonyfield.

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Professor Andy Novakovic takes listeners through the economics of the dairy industry and why milk prices have fallen below the price of production. What can small to medium size dairy farms do to survive under these circumstances?

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How did milk become the dietary and nutritional staple it is? Dr. Willett explains the history of the marketing campaign that has encouraged Americans to consume massive quantities of milk, and then debunks some of the nutritional claims made by the industry to justify that consumption. Is it really a super food? Willett's research has shown otherwise, but we continue to promote milk around the world. What will the dietary consequences be for developing nations? The ins and outs of dairy marketing and discussion get a full on exam in this episode with one of America's leading nutritionists and scientists.

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Alex LaPrise explains how a small group of Rhode Island dairy farmers banded together to call their own shots. the challenges and the pitfalls of competing with the dairy industry as a small producer.

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Professor Peter Carstensen has made anti trust law his specialty, particularly as it pertains to the American Dairy Industry. He explains how a co-op model initiated decades ago to help dairy farmers bargain collectively has become the major impediment to their financial success. Consolidation and monopolization in dairy are very similar to the meat industry. The impacts of that consolidation are examined closely in this episode.

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In the first episode of 2018, What Doesn’t Kill You launches a multipart series diving into the dairy industry. Today’s guest is a dairy farmer and environmental attorney in Herkimer County N.Y., Lorraine Lewandrowski. The lively discussion goes from a day in the life of a dairy farmer to rural development, and from milk prices to consumer education.

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Is plant-based meat really the meal of the future? Alison Rabschnuk, Director of Corporate Engagement for the Good Food Institute explains how this organization is supporting companies making huge strides in the field of research and development for meat substitutes for the future. It isn't just companies such as Impossible Burger who are developing this alternative, but even the big players such as Tyson are investing. What those products are and how they are formulated to go beyond just a burger substitute are covered in this fascinating discussion about the future of the center of the plate.

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