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Today's Poll: Should children be allowed to work on farms?

By Howard B. Owens
Irene Will

why stop at farms ? If they're going to prevent children from doing farm chores, then why not prevent them from doing dishes, cleaning up their rooms, etc?

This is just ridiculous. I was raised on a farm. I did chores. Like MOST farm kids (if I do say so myself), I have ALWAYS been a hard and dependable worker. Most kids today don't know what it IS to work hard. They think bussing a table is HARD WORK. They couldn't even follow a farmer AROUND for a day, much less WORK HARD for 8 hours.

Apr 26, 2012, 8:52am Permalink
Mark Brudz

This really is an example of BIG Government and yes the Nanny state.

I saw an interview with Senator John Thune last night who is very much against these changes, He was asked if he had spoken with Secretary Of Agriculture John Vilsack (A Farm State Guy)

The answer was astounding, the Secretary told him, he had interceded against this and had it moderated, that the Labor department had much more stringent rules in mind.

If this is implimented it will also grow government even more, more inspectors, more implimentation cost, ergo MORE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES & EVEN MORE SPENDING!

The next congretional election before you vote, the question should be posed to every candidate, "What do you intend to do to shrink the federal government?"

Apr 26, 2012, 9:25am Permalink
Dan Gross

Amazing how one errant news source providing false information at a weird time (this has been planned since last August, why no uproar there) becomes "the truth." While yes, there are revisions to labor laws being considered, they all relate to HIRED HANDS. Per the fact sheet linked below, family farm exemptions remain in place (see NOTE on page 1). In other words, kids can still do farm chores on their family's farms.
http://www.marshfieldclinic.org/proxy/MCRF-Centers-NCMF-NCCRAHS-ChildLa…

Apr 26, 2012, 10:09am Permalink
Mark Brudz

Except that under the new rules if the parents do not have full ownership, I.e if two brother's own the Family farm, thier children are not included in the exception, This is the propondurance of farms that we call family farms,

"Rehberg said that if parents don’t have full ownership of their property — a common situation — the family exemption would not apply."

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/196769-child-labor-rules-rile-la…

Apr 26, 2012, 12:21pm Permalink
Dan Gross

Apparently the Congressman is unaware of the FLSA and that it requires an act of Congress to change what is considered a "family exemption." The DOL has no power to. See http://www.dol.gov/whd/CL/SidebySideNPRM.htm Where things get hazy (and where the DOL has been reconsidering) is going down the street to Grandpa's farm to work, where Dad does not have a substantial stake (LLC's substantially owned by the parent and co-owned farms are "covered" under the exemption)...per http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20120202/NEWS02/702029839/0/… :
"With the final regulations in limbo, the Labor Department said the parental exemption will apply to children whose parents are partial owners in a farm, partners in a farm ownership or officers in a corporation that owns a farm, so long as the ownership interest is 'substantial.'
The parental exemption, created by Congress in 1966, allows children younger than 16 to perform any job on a farm owned or operated by a parent or someone standing in as a parent. That basic principle was never threatened, but children might have been barred from working on farms with more complicated joint ownership — an arrangement that has become more common as farms have grown in recent decades.
Farm groups also said they worried that children would be barred from working on farms owned by their grandparents or other extended relatives, a situation the Labor Department said it would consider. Those jobs could include operating machinery or working around breeding cattle, the National Milk Producers Federation said."

Apr 26, 2012, 12:49pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

It does matter what they say, it matters what they write, that is the bone of contention and that is what Senators and Congressmen from farm styates are concerned about

Apr 26, 2012, 1:55pm Permalink
Cory Hawley

Irene you are partially right. I didn't grow up on a farm, but my parents made me do lawn work, clean, etc. and it was for the better.
I don't think you have to grow up on a farm to be a hard worker. I would rather my kid be busing tables for work (while in school or college) than sitting on their butt. This poll isn't about "what jobs are the hardest."
Next time you sit down at a restaurant, and your table is dirty, just call over one of the lazy busers to take care of it.

Apr 26, 2012, 3:31pm Permalink
Gary Diegelman

Howard, This looks like huge poll numbers. Do you know what poll you put out that gathered the most amount of votes cast? The next thing will be that kids won't be able to help out at their grandparents house using a power mower or a garden tiller.

Apr 26, 2012, 4:54pm Permalink
Mark Brudz

That is correct Kim, The White House annouced tonight they are scrubbing the rule changes and instead are going to work with Farm Organizations to beef up Farm Safety classes for Teens

Apr 26, 2012, 11:34pm Permalink

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