After challenging a proposed U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) rule that could hamper young people’s ability to consider agricultural-related careers and restrict farm families’ ability to employ young people, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer announced that DOL is extending the comment period on the proposed changes by a month.

Luetkemeyer has been informed that the public comment period on the proposed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act scheduled to end November 1 has been extended until December 1. The move comes after Luetkemeyer and congressional colleagues wrote a letter to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis arguing that the proposed regulations have the potential to dramatically change the way in which children under the age of 18 are allowed to work in both agricultural and nonagricultural operations.

“This is a critical issue to our American farm communities, and I am pleased that the Labor Department is extending the public comment period on this rule because government should not be in the business of standing in the way of young people who want to dedicate themselves to a life in agriculture,” said Luetkemeyer, a third generation family farmer and small businessman. “Agriculture is the lifeblood of our nation. It is critical that people have their voices heard during this additional public comment period.”

On September 2, 2011, DOL indicated their desire to revise the Fair Labor Standards Act as it relates to young workers employed in agriculture. The proposed changes as they relate to youth employment in agriculture include:

• Strengthening current child labor prohibitions regarding agricultural work with animals in timber operations, manure pits, storage bins and pesticide handling.
• Prohibiting hired farm workers under the age of 16 from employment in the cultivation, harvesting and curing of tobacco.
• Prohibiting hired farm workers under the age of 16 from operating almost all power-driven equipment.
• Preventing children under 18 years of age from being employed in the storing, marketing and transporting of farm-product raw materials. Prohibited places of employment would include grain elevators, grain bins, silos, feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges and livestock auctions.

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