Comment from Priscilla Baker

I am writing to express opposition to the new proposed rules for children in agricultural labor. The proposed laws are over-reaching and will severely limit the ability of young people to gain employment and experience in agriculture. I worked on my friends and relative's farms as a teenager. The proposed rules, had they been in effect at the time, would have made all my work illegal. This is simply ridiculous. Helping family and neighbors to plant or harvest a crop is vital and we should not eliminate a talented and capable work force; our children and teenagers. While there are unfortunate accidents. Overall I have witnessed sufficient concern and supervision by adults in ag work done by young people. They are very concerned about the safety of the youngsters. Furthermore, the most competent young adults I know have had extensive farm labor experience as children and teenagers. Preventing them outright from getting that experience will merely postpone the accidents. It will also discourage young people from going into agriculture. I am also particularly angry that children under 16 would be banned outright from working in tobacco. I worked in tobacco, and I do not smoke. This law would make it MUCH more difficult and expensive for farm families to successfully harvest their tobacco crop. I do not see that this aspect of the rule has child safety in mind. It is politically motivated, and FAR over-reaching. I do support banning the use of cell phones while operating all machinery. Teenagers need to be able to have productive work. For teenagers in rural areas, the logical place for that is on the farm. They should not be limited in gaining employment if their parents do not own a farm. Sincerely, Priscilla Baker