As part of his continuing commitment toprotect America’s hard-working farm families, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) is again calling on the U.S. Department of Labor to scrap proposed rules that would restrict the ability of young Missourians to consider agricultural-related careers and limit farmers’ options when hiring young people.

Luetkemeyer, in a letter also signed by fellow members of Congress to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, said while there is an existing exemption in the proposed rule for children working on a family-owned or operated farm, the proposed rules would restrict many jobs currently available to younger workers, unless employed directly by a parent. In essence, the proposed rules would prohibit nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, etc. from assuming farm roles they have traditionally participated in. 

“These restrictions would be devastating to rural Americans when you consider that 98 percent of farms in this country are family-owned operations and many farms are jointly owned by several family members,” Luetkemeyer said. “While I appreciate the need to ensure that young people are protected, I simply cannot accept restrictions that would be devastating to rural communities and those young Americans interested in pursuing careers in agriculture.”  

The letter also highlighted concerns that the rule is overly broad and ambiguous when it discusses younger workers and the use of power-driven equipment and that individuals under the age of 16 would be unable to engage in any occupations involving work on roofs, scaffolds and at elevations greater than six feet. The department proposes to define the term power-driven equipment to include all machines operated by any power source other than human hand or foot power that could be interpreted to mean that a younger worker is banned from operating a flashlight. With regard to the proposed height restrictions, someone under the age of 16 employed in agriculture could no longer work on a ladder or in a hayloft more than six feet off the ground. Luetkemeyer said the Labor Department had proposed many of these changes without providing substantial evidence to show the need for them and without considering the economic impact.

Last September, the Labor Department indicated its desire to revise the Fair Labor Standards Act as it relates to young workers employed in agriculture by 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 16 from employment in the cultivation, harvesting and curing of tobacco; and preventing children under 18 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.

###