Administration doesn't want kids working on farms.

[WiseOwl]

http://news.yahoo.com/rural-kids-parents-angry-labor-dept-rule-banning-054605888.html

Well how about this bravo Sierra for a wednesday morning news read?
More hopety hope!

[monkeybird]

I'm sitting here shaking my head and wondering exactly how all the BS happened. My son was required to mow the grass, take out the garbage, clean his own room and bathroom. If I'd lived on a farm, I imagine he'd have had a lot of farm chores. Now that was in the 80's and he has grown up to be a fine man who still comes over and mows my grass.

The issue is that children must learn responsibility. Every member of a family has a role to play. The new way of parenting, in which the child is the center of the universe, is guaranteed to teach our children one thing, how to be a better self centered person!

I guess the labor department could say a lawn mower is 'farm labor'.

[MustangGal]

I am furious! I emailed my Senator.

Dear Senator Boozman,
I am writing you to express my concern and outrage at the:
"The Department of Labor is poised to put the finishing touches on a rule that would apply child-labor laws to children working on family farms, prohibiting them from performing a list of jobs on their own families’ land." http://news.yahoo.com/rural-kids-par...054605888.html

One of the reasons we are in the process of creating a family farm is to insure that our child understands the value of hardwork. As I understand it the law prohibits "children under 18 could no longer work “in the storing, marketing and transporting of farm product raw materials.” This means our son couldn't milk our goat and refrigerate the milk! This is utter and complete nonsense. Farm chores instill the understanding of the value of hard work and determination. This nation was built on the family farm, we cannot let it be destroyed.

I feel like this is just another attack on the family by the current administration. Farm families are some of the most stable people I know! Why? Because they are working together to CREATE something! They are not simply consumers. I believe with all my heart that getting away from the family farm is one of the worst things that ever happened to America. I know I have never read about a "gang" of farm kids terrorizing the streets. I would be willing to bet that not one of the kids involved in school shootings were farm kids - yet they probably have more access to guns than most. Do farm kids ever get in trouble? Of course they do, they are kids, but the percentage of farm kids in trouble with the law is probably one of the lowest for any people group.

Farming creates an independent spirit, something big government despises. I implore you, please, do what you can to stop this encroachment on the American farm family.

Sincerely,

[protus]

control...keep the kids at the re-education camps while mom and dad work the fields for the greater good :p( foil hat off) LOL

[blackhawk]

My two kids 14 and 15 both work for farms one a horse the other a cows i would not trade it for nothing.

[SeldomSeenSlim]

This type of thing is becoming more and more common. The "family farm" is seen as a blight in the modern world. City folks just can't imagine how us dirt living heathens in the sticks don't just up and die without all of those rules to keep us safe.

[bountyhunter69]

its pure plain socialism,control the middle/low class of americans..less work on family farm means we have to depend on corporate giants like ADM,MONSANTO and the other mega giants,control the food,control the people

[goatlady]

This "law" clearly states that children working on a farm owned by their parents are EXEMPT! The kids cannot work on grandpa's place or Uncle Billy's place but are able to work Mom and Dad's place, the kids home, with no limitations. MustangGal, your letter was excellent, but off the mark as to accuracy.

U.S. Department of Labor - A Summary of Major DOL Laws www.dol.gov
The Department of Labor (DOL) administers and enforces more than 180 .... Children employed on their families' farms are exempt from these regulations.

[MustangGal]

Goatlady, you are correct. I missed that part, but if our family farm is owned by family - we own it together (and we actually do some work with DH's uncle) - then it is correct. If our farm was owned entirely by us, then we would be exempt. I'm not really sure how we would fall, especially since there has been some discussion about renting farm land from DH's uncle. If we rented land, would we be able to have our son do chores on the rented property?

[goatlady]

Most probably since your name would be on the rental agreement. lso seems to me that if your name is on the deed as an owner, your kid is exempt working any land that is owned by you even partially. I am NOT agreeing with the law at all - it prevents kids from working at the local feed store or picking crops in the summer like my girls did in the spinach and strawberry fields in WA. state, and driving the pea harvester from midnight to 6 as oldest daughter did for several years. It's a carpy law, but folks are missing that key part and when they protest they look like idiots and are ignored!

[WiseOwl]

I sent this to some of my friends that own farms around here and all of their kids help out with them and the other farms they are friends with. They are so pissed.
I cant believe this even as I read the article again.

[WiseOwl]

control...keep the kids at the re-education camps while mom and dad work the fields for the greater good :p( foil hat off) LOL

http://youtu.be/jyYFoXV6iAs

Wish I had a tripod to set my camera, I would like to make a spoof like this

[sniper69]

And to think I was going to try to find a farm job for my oldest this summer.

[buttebob]

The Labor Dept has just rescinded this order. To much heat maybe.

[Grand58742]

The Labor Dept has just rescinded this order. To much heat maybe.

This, but I wouldn't imagine it will stop some of the more crafty power grabbers that want to "protect the children" from coming up with additional legislation that invades on the family life of normal Americans.