“If the federal government can regulate the relationship
between parents and their children on their own family’s
farm there is virtually nothing off limits”
- Senator Jerry Moran
Posted on 03/22/2012 9:14:07 AM PDT by Starman417
“If the federal government can regulate the relationship
between parents and their children on their own family’s
farm there is virtually nothing off limits”
- Senator Jerry Moran
Just when I thought Obama's big government couldn't get more intrusive we have this: (h/t Gateway Pundit and Allen Wall)
The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing revisions to child labor regulations that will strengthen the safety requirements for young workers employed in agriculture and related fields. The agricultural hazardous occupations orders under the Fair Labor Standards Act that bar young workers from certain tasks have not been updated since they were promulgated in 1970.The department is proposing updates based on the enforcement experiences of its Wage and Hour Division, recommendations made by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and a commitment to bring parity between the rules for young workers employed in agricultural jobs and the more stringent rules that apply to those employed in nonagricultural workplaces. The proposed regulations would not apply to children working on farms owned by their parents.
"Children employed in agriculture are some of the most vulnerable workers in America," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Ensuring their welfare is a priority of the department, and this proposal is another element of our comprehensive approach."
The proposal would strengthen current child labor regulations prohibiting agricultural work with animals and in pesticide handling, timber operations, manure pits and storage bins. It would prohibit farmworkers under age 16 from participating in the cultivation, harvesting and curing of tobacco. And it would prohibit youth in both agricultural and nonagricultural employment from using electronic, including communication, devices while operating power-driven equipment.
The department also is proposing to create a new nonagricultural hazardous occupations order that would prevent children under 18 from being employed in the storing, marketing and transporting of farm product raw materials. Prohibited places of employment would include country grain elevators, grain bins, silos, feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges and livestock auctions.
Additionally, the proposal would prohibit farmworkers under 16 from operating almost all power-driven equipment. A similar prohibition has existed as part of the nonagricultural child labor provisions for more than 50 years. A limited exemption would permit some student learners to operate certain farm implements and tractors, when equipped with proper rollover protection structures and seat belts, under specified conditions.
The proposed rules only affect "hired farm workers," not those working on farms owned by their parents.
So that should make us all breath a sigh of relief for the American farm family right?
This just shows how much the Obamacrats are out of touch with America’s farm belt. In multi-generational farm families, you often have several siblings or other relatives living in close proximity. Parts of the operation may be owned by several family members. Some of the land may be rented. Some family farms are technically considered limited liability corporations or other such arrangements. It can get complicated.Johnny might work on his dad’s farm, but he might also go right next door to his uncle’s property to work for him a few hours in the afternoon. These rule changes would make that traditional practice much more difficult.
Under these rules, kids wouldn’t get to drive (or sometimes even ride!) tractors. Typically, farm youngsters drive tractors from an early age. I did. My 14-year old nephew, an experienced tractor driver, tells me he started driving a tractor at about age 7 and was driving in the field by 9 or 10.
Not only do the new regulations prohibit the kids’ driving tractors, except under certain conditions, they can’t even ride the tractors!
Farm kids would also be restricted from working with livestock.
(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...
To read later.
If you teach kids in their formative years that they aren't allowed to work, is it any surprise when they reach working age that they don't think they should have to?
It says (in the 2nd paragraph): “The proposed regulations would not apply to children working on farms owned by their parents.”
So I am not sure what the big alarm is and what this has to do with the quote under the photo which talks about regulating the relationship between parents and their children on their own family’s farm.
Its really an assault on food production. There will be disastrous consequences from this.
Scarce farm labor will already be made even more scarce. Who will it benefit? Illegals? Unions? Will they benefit at all? Food production will be hurt BIG TIME by this, and I can’t believe the apparatchiks in DC don’t already know this.
I used to read about the Ag. policies of the Soviet Union and China and naively think, “how could they be so stupid?” I realized only much later that their policies weren’t about new ways of production or efficiency - they were all about control and politics.
Obama is no different.
Energy production, farming, and manufacturing are as necessary to a nation as air, water, and food are for the body.
They’re being gang raped by every federal agency that can find a reason.
I don’t think the vast majority of American farmers even care what Hilda Soliz has to say about the way they operate their businesses. Whether it be family or private.
What about a kid who wants to run a COMBINE on a neighboring farm when s/he is 16? What about a kid who wants to cut neighbors lawns?
And, furthermore, Go read the article...
Government loves and cares more for our children than us parents do.
I ponder any time I hear "we are a free country" these days.
Read at around paragraph 8:
“In multi-generational farm families, you often have several siblings or other relatives living in close proximity. Parts of the operation may be owned by several family members.”
So, brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins, aunts, in-laws, and grandparents would be subject to the new regulations.
That could definitely hamper operations on a “family” farm.
I’m in the middle of $7000 and acre corn belt midwest and
this is pissing people off big time. It’s one of the main
topics of local radio. Nothing unusual to see a petite blond
high school girl who isn’t old enough to get a drivers
license driving a monster 8 wheel tractor down the road.
What about 4-H Club livestock projects.
These people are certifiably insane. If more kids grew up on a farm they would learn how to work and wouldn’t be looking for hand outs. I was driving a tractor as soon as my feet and legs could work the pedals
Makes me want to scream!
I was working in dark leaf tobacco when I was in my early teens (early 60’s) on farms not owned by my parents. We used to get off a couple of weeks from the start of school, as I remember, to harvest the tobacco (backbreaking work). Not much pay, basically a few bucks, lunch, and plenty of water to drink. We got a new pair of coveralls every year at Christmas. By the end of the harvest they would stand up on their own because of the tar. Thats why I never smoked.
My 4-H project consisted of raising 200-400 chickens each year. Ran it like a business. Sold a lot of pullits and eggs to local families.
Say good bye to 4-H and FFA.
My 15 year old granddaughter is better with a Bobcat and
tractor than most men 20-70, I’d be willing to bet.
Every profitable family farm is a family corporation.
bfl
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