"Changes to child labor laws hurt farmers."

[OldGuy43]

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You have a lot more faith in the common sense of bureaucrats than I do.

 

[Farmerboy16]

I got a job at a dairy farm a few months ago, like working there. My boss's nephew is 14 and had been working at the farm since he was 12, and he does a lot faster and better job milking cows, handling cows and the bull better then me, and I am only 23. If the law pass, he will be out of work, for the farm belongs to his Uncle, not his dad.

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

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How would they be able to regulate that? I only read that all farm work is banned from kids... Where is the line that distinguishes factory farm from "family-owned" farm. I'm pretty sure I read/heard that at least 90% of dairy farms are "family-owned". That doesn't mean they're not still considered a factory farm, though.

 

[cupman]

x

 

[cafarmgirl]

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How would they be able to regulate that? I only read that all farm work is banned from kids... Where is the line that distinguishes factory farm from "family-owned" farm. I'm pretty sure I read/heard that at least 90% of dairy farms are "family-owned". That doesn't mean they're not still considered a factory farm, though.

It's not about distinguishing between family owned vs factory farms, the point is, if your a kid and your working there then you better be directly related, as in, the child of, the owners! Doesn't matter how big the operation is.

 

[JD4570]

I worked on cash crop farm that grew vegetables after I struck a deal with owner to sell his produce at my stand. I ran the tractors plowing, planting and cultivating. I also was in as my brother on the harvesting. I made $200 for eight weeks then 50% of the sales. That all averaged about $400 a week. By the way I was 14 and my father had left us for the time being. If this law had been in effect then it would have taken the food out of our mouths and clothes of our backs! This was the job that taught me my work ethic and how to run a business. It never ceases to amaze me how people in government can profess to know so much when they don't know enough. I guess they think I would been safer starving and naked.

 

[Royd]

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In 58 years I've never seen such a thing happen, in any business or industry. It would be like handing a kid a bag of nuts and bolts and tell them to go tune up Big Ben...Ain't gonna happen. People in supervisory positions didn't get there by being reckless and careless with corporate money and equipment.
They wouldn't hand the keys of $500,000 tractor or combine to an unqualified adult, just because he had a driver's liscence, and say, Go harvest that field, let alone a 12 year old, so that theory doesn't wash.

I would say, it's more of an attempt and undermining the family farm.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

This is nothing more nor less than a further attempt to destroy the remaining family farms.

When I was a child, under age 12, I picked strawberries, beans, and other crops.

At 16, I was old enough to hoe strawberries.

The laws changed; many of the family farms were acquired by Bentley Agrodynamics and other large firms who hired illegal alien migrant workers.

The kids were out. The fast food jobs also were taken over by illegal aliens who decided not to move on; why should they when the local taxpayers helped to pay for social programs and "affordable housing" for them. The teenagers were now out. No more saving money for college.

Today those small towns have to provide "affordable housing", emergency room medical care, and other goodies to the illegal aliens and their families. The big firms get super cheap labor, and the local residents pick up the bills.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Oh, and although we were working on family farms, we weren't related to the farm families. Nothing says agribusiness more than a law like this - note not word one about illegal alien workers although most of the visas for agricultural laborers are NOT claimed since illegals are cheaper than having to comply with the terms required of an employer of agricultural visa holders - things like safety, paying the same as local labor wages for farmworkers, etc.

 

[chicken_boy_Kurt]

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Let me say one thing- there is nothing wrong with agribusiness. Small, family-run farms are agribusinesses, as are feed stores; they sell an agricultural product.