The US Department of Labor is proposing to change the regulations regarding children working on farms. The new rules will ban children from dangerous activities such as working on a hay stack higher than six feet above the ground, using any power tool, or herding cattle with a horse. Under the new rules children would be required to complete at least 90 hours of classroom instructions before they could be hired to work on a farm. As you might imagine, as the father of six young farm children, this proposal concerns me. So I wrote these comments and submitted them the Department of Labor for their consideration.
I am concerned about the Department of Labor child labor rule, “Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation” (RIN 1235-AA06). I have been involved with agriculture all my life. As a young boy I helped my grandfather and my uncles on the family dairy farm doing everything from milking cows and feeding calves to hauling hay and helping in the fields. I count my experiences on the farm as a great blessing in my life. The lessons I learned helped form me into the man I have become. Had these proposed new rules been in effect when I was a boy, my helping on the farm would have been against the law. One of the great memories I have of growing up on the farm is each fall filling the old hay loft with approximately 2000 bales of straw. This was a hot dusty job that was performed well above the six foot high limit proposed by the new rules.
Today I have chosen to raise my six children on a small family farm, this farm happens to be incorporated. Not only do I have my children help on the farm, I have many neighbors who practically beg me to give their children a job and the opportunity to learn to work too. The proposed changes would prevent me from allowing children to work on my farm, and rob them of the valuable lessons that they could learn.
I understand that safety is an issue, no one is more concerned about that than me, it is my children who work with me. I believe that the work environment I provide for the children on my farm is safe. Children are monitored closely as they work and are only given tasks that are age appropriate.
I could not operate my farm without the help of my children, and the lessons I learned working with my family from my youth. I would hope this tradition can continue.
At a time when youth need the opportunity to learn responsibility, the value of hard work, and earn a little spending money, this regulation would restrict their ability to do all three. It would not only be bad for farms, it would also be bad for America’s youth.
I would strongly encourage your reconsideration of “Child Labor Regulations, Orders and Statements of Interpretation” (RIN 1235-AA06).
It seems we have too many government people who need to document their jobs. It’s ironic that they haven’t banned bathtubs. They are not safe but then just getting up in the morning could be hazardous to your health. I’m tired of the government thinking they need to hold you hand for everything we do.
As a current member of the FFA I feel that this law would completely ruin the agricultural progress that that organization has worked so hard achieve for over 80 years. It would wipe out the Supervised Agricultural Experience Program which sole purpose is to prepare young adults, like myself, for futures in agriculture. Also, the key word here is SUPERVISED. Children are not just let loose on their own to do whatever they feel. Also, working and caring for crops, livestock or even a garden and pets is a great way to learn responsibility and great work ethic. I believe that if this new law is passed it would being far more damage than good.
I am an ag teacher as well as a father. Please let parents be parents and judge for themselves the potential dangers that livestock and other farm situation can present. Many other jobs that may not be considered ag can be just as dangerous to a kid with no knowledge, training, or supervision. Let us decide what age, size, or maturity our kids can do a task. It seems like in this world of more and more welfare and entitlements, kids with jobs learn a work ethic that America needs.
This would greatly impact the success of our students who are continuing their learning outside of the classroom in Supervised Agricultural Experiences. Our students are better prepared for the real world because they have had REAL hands-on experiences.