New Child Farm Laws Proposed

The U.S. Labor Department is proposing new
rules for child farm workers that would keep many from driving
tractors, using big equipment and working with livestock.
Labor officials say the rules are needed because farming is one
of the nation’s most dangerous occupations. The National Safety
Council says nearly 29 out of every 100,000 farm workers die on the
job.
But farmers say the proposed rules could keep kids from learning
about the hard work and responsibility necessary to work on a farm.
And, they say, if young people can’t get jobs on farms, fewer will
develop an interest in agriculture careers.
Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Mike Spradling says he knows
there are dangers in agriculture, but there are also many important
lessons young people can learn.