The Renegade Farmer: Raw Milk Activist Michael Schmidt

**FOLKS *** We have a tentative date for interview depending on Mr. Schmidt's health***

Michael Schmidt has launched himself onto the national scene for doing a simple thing--standing up for what he feels is the right thing to do.

Raised in Germany with a Masters in Agriculture, he created the first certified organic farm with cheese processing facilities, and today cheese from this farm is distributed throughout Germany.

He also began practicing biodynamic principles  in farming, and transferred these to his current farm, Glencolton,  in Ontario Canada, which he and wife Dorthea purchased in 1983.

With previous knowledge of cows and diary structure, Schmidt set about to create a dairy based on biodynamic principles, which was scrupulously clean, and dealt with the concerns of the cow. Because of this work, Glencolton soon became popular amongst those who heard about his farm, and so a cowshare at Glencolton was set up.

In 1994, however, the government heard about the Schmidt's program and actively raided the farm, at various times, taking milk, butter and other products and throwing it into the TOXIC waste dumps ("it's too dangerous to even put in a regular dump), destroying property, potentially harming animals, and even setting up surveillance on the Schmidts.

The ensuing trials had prosecutors claining that raw milk had no health benefits, but did nothing but carry  TB, Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Streptococci and Staphylococci (this despite centuries of humans drinking unpasteurized milk).

In the years that followed, Michael has fought back through publicity campaigns and his farm has continued to suppy raw milk to those who tout it's benefits. His latest fight involves him undergoing a hunger strike until he speaks with Ontario's Premier, Dalton McGuinty.

Join us as we speak with this remarkable man!