Update of Proposed Child Farm Labor Rules

From the Maryland Farm Bureau: Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) on Friday introduced a measure that expresses the sense of the Congress that “the Secretary of Labor should recognize the unique circumstances of family farm youth and multi-generational family partnerships in agricultural operations when drafting regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act.”

Latham’s legislation, co-sponsored by Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.), is a response to a proposal by the Department of Labor that would affect the ability of growers to hire youth, limit training offered by the Cooperative Extension Service and vocational educational programs such as 4-H and FFA and also potentially affect the existing family farm exemption. In addition, the new rules could prevent young people from doing other types of work that isn’t directly agricultural but related to agriculture, such as jobs connected with grain storage. Farmers and ranchers are worried that the proposed rules could significantly affect the way families work their operations. DOL is currently reviewing public comments on its proposal.

For more info on DOL's proposal, see MHC Legislative Blogpost of November 11. 2011