Tag Archives: U.S Department of Labor

Keep Your Eye on the Ball: Remain Vigilant on Farm Youth Rules

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Photo courtesy of AgriNews.com

“Musings of a Pig Farmer”
By Larry Sailer

I’d like to take about 10 seconds to celebrate the win agriculture experienced after the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced it was withdrawing its rules that would have applied child labor laws to youth working on farms. I’d also like to thank all of the people who had the foresight to see what these regulations would have done to farm families and the disastrous effect they would have on 4-H and FFA programs. It took a strong voice to make the DOL back down, yet the agricultural community was heard.

However, I honestly believe those of us in agriculture can’t afford to celebrating for longer than 10 seconds. Why? That’s because when the U.S. government isn’t launching an investigation or issuing new rules, it’s developing a new program. This is also an election year, and history has proven that crazy things happen around and shortly thereafter elections.

Larry’s grandson, Darin, helping him last weekend. “I don’t make Darin work. He wants to help!”

After reading the DOL’s statement, I realized it really isn’t backing away from this issue. Oh, no! “The Obama administration is firmly committed to promoting family farmers.” This statement is like a waving red flag because it’s a significant change in wording. When the new youth farm labor regulations were first announced, there was no mention about the Obama administration. It was all about the Department of Labor. Now the Obama Administration is stepping in and taking credit for a “win” in hopes of gaining rural votes prior to November.

That’s not to say this regulation won’t be pursued post election, say in 2013. In the meantime, the Obama Administration wants to develop education programs that promote farm safety. This is another example of government redundancy! Farm safety programs already exist. Just think of the positive impact that could be made if everyone – including the U.S. government – spent time supporting/promoting educational programs that are already in place through 4-H, the FFA and Farm Safety 4 Just Kids.

Let’s keep our eyes on the ball, so we’re not struck by cumbersome programs that could be just as restrictive as rules. This game’s not over! Perhaps this is just the 7th inning stretch… 

Industry NewsLast Chance to Comment On Child Labor

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The deadline draws near to raise concerns over the U.S Department of Labor’s proposed changes to “youth labor” rules. Comments are due Dec. 1.

At face value, it looks like if you have a family farm, you’ll be exempt. However, if the family farm is incorporated, you’re not exempt if someone other than the child’s parents own stock. Our concern is that these rule changes will reach further than we might even know. The proposed regulations also don’t take into account the many faces of modern family farms. Not everyone fits the government’s traditional definition of family farms; today’s family farming operations might be grandparents and grandchildren or uncle and aunts, nieces and nephews.

We hope you – as well as your family members and friends – will contact the Department of Labor and let them know how detrimental these changes would be to your family. To submit comments, click here and reference RIN 1235-AA06.

Click here to hear more.

For additional background information on the proposed rule changes, see these blog posts:

  1. Comment by Dec. 1 on how proposed changes to “child labor” regulations would impact your farm: http://bit.ly/ueDC92
  2. Farm cores help build character & work ethic. If you agree, please contact the Department of Labor by Dec 1: http://bit.ly/uCEp0X
  3. FFA & 4-H projects could be affected by proposed “child labor” rules: http://bit.ly/uCEp0X
  4. Child labor? Oh, please! Every day is “bring your child to work day” on the farm.” http://bit.ly/rWd2My
  5. Teen Farm Labor is Vital in Rural Areas: http://bit.ly/t5j65s
  6. Proposed “child labor” rules include gray areas. Help common sense (aka “grey matter”) prevail. Take a look: http://bit.ly/tU2qMw