Farm Labor

http://chrischinn.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/will-my-children-be-allowed-to-work-on-our-farm/

This article poses the new question that farmers are asking ourselves now.  Will my children be allowed to work on our farm.  New legislation proposed will prevent children under the age of 16 from "working" on a farm, even their parent's farm.  It will also prohibit them from using any tools that are not "hand or foot" operated.  No battery powered drills, no driving tractors or other equipment, nothing electric or battery powered.

What is frustrating is that we hope that our children will return to the farm one day to establish their careers and families.  Unfortunately, this legislation could prevent our children from learning the necessary tricks of the trade to help them when we are no longer around.

I assume that the legislation is going to be in place because of farm safety issues.  We talk to our children on an almost daily basis about being safe on the farm.  We emphasize how important it is to "hit the grass" when you hear any type of vehicle coming, and our children will go running for the yard the second they hear a car, truck, semi, or tractor coming up the gravel.  We talk about not climbing ladders, not to ever enter a bin without an adult, and to steer clear of the augers.  Our kids know which hogs they are allowed to be in the pen with and which ones they cannot enter because of the size of the kid and the animal.  We take all of this very seriously.  I see no difference with urban parents who have to teach their kids about how to be safe on the ell platform.  Are we going to ban children under 16 from riding the ell in Chicago?

Please talk to your legislators about the foolishness of this proposed law.