Author: Nuttygrass

I'm a nut and grass farmer, EMT, Firefighter, and world traveler. I love a good laugh and a great adventure!

Youth Labor Laws Scrapped!

Some of you may have heard about the newly proposed labor laws set forth by the Department of Labor regarding youth working in agriculture and how just late Thursday night they have pulled away from these overreaching regulations!!  These laws, if put in place, would have been a huge detriment to our industry.  I believe as a family farmer that safety is hugely important and something that needs to be addressed every day, especially when you have youth working on your operation.  But I also believe that these rules were very over the top and would have prohibited many of us from even employing our own children to drive a combine!

My Cousin Emily who also worked on our farm for many summers!


The DOL asked for comments this past year and here are a few of the concerns that I had, among many, with their new regulations.

November 18, 2011

I am a third generation farmer in Oregon and have been farming with my mother and father now for five years.  Although we are an incorporated farm, we are still a family farm.  In these proposed rules we would not only loose our “family farm” exemption just because we are incorporated, we would also lose the ability to hire youth from our very own families who we have relied on for generations to help during the busy times of year.  I grew up farming as a youngster on the farm and have taken away problem solving skills, a good work ethic, and a chance to have real responsibilities.  All of which have helped me and my siblings and cousins be successful into adulthood.  I think that to take away this opportunity for young people who are family members is a mistake!  I don’t yet have children of my own, but I plan to incorporate not only my own children, but also my nieces and nephews and someday grandchildren into this farm.  Please do not take away this opportunity for them to have a place here.  I hope that future generations of children, nieces, nephews and grandkids can learn what I’ve learned and come away with a true respect for farming and all that it does for this country.

The start of the next generation for our Farm!

Another concern is the 90 hours of schooling that will be required of the youth in order to come and work on the farm.  I think that this is way too much a burden and will cause our ability to get youth to come and help with the harvest impossible.  At a time when agriculture isn’t being taught in every school, and being cut from programs across the nation; we have to think of the realistic problems this will bring.  Plus majority of the information needed when working on a farm is found right there, with the best teachers, the farmer’s themselves.  We already have rigid safety rules that are required for all employees no matter what their age; and I feel that these keep us safe everyday on the farm.  I see more hourly classroom requirements only as a way to decrease the amount of youth that will be able to come back and help farm and get all the benefits that working there can provide.

The maximum height restriction is another inappropriate limitation.  Many of our harvest equipment is much taller than the six feet that this restriction allows, but they are as safe as if they were standing on the ground.  Any other areas that are above that height such as lofts are always on our minds as possible safety danger areas.  Because of that they are always a topic in safety meetings and in training; we are aware of the danger and have put in place safety measures to keep us all safe.  Having been an employed youth on this operation and I can attest to how safe we are able to go about business, even over 6 ft from the ground.  Ladders are another example of a place where we do business over 6 feet in the air.  And again this safety issue is covered over and over again; we tell them how to do things right and in a safe manner.  I believe that because we do follow regulations that are put in place already we have never had an injury from any event that started when a child was over 6 ft from the ground.

I think that this shows how important it is to pay attention and be involved in your industry! Someone once told me that if you’re not at the table, then you’re on the table! Ever since then I have begun to realize how important agvocacy truly is!!


The Hunt is On!

There is one thing on the farm that can stop all progress. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, or how important it is, nothing takes precedence over the chance for a SQUIRREL HUNT! We fight squirrels all year long. They are always running around, stealing nuts (crop) from our orchards, digging holes everywhere and in general being a huge nuisance. I will say that they do have a sort of natural appeal that people like. Loyola Marymount University is a great example of how a good “natural” animal can become a huge

nuisance! I went there for undergrad and it was rumored that they imported squirrels on to campus to bring a more natural feel to the place. They ended up completely taking over, apparently they didn’t figure on all the reproducing these things would do while hanging out and getting fed by college students. They became such a big issue my sophomore year I thought about appealing to get some hunting permits. One of my neighbors actually had a break in one day, I heard the screaming and came running. She was outside her room yelling that a squirrel had broken into her room and was ravaging the place. We waited until the commotion in the room settled before opening the door. The place was ransacked, and after the darn thing eaten all the Oreos she had stored in her dorm, it left little squirrel prints all over her homework, bed, and desk.

Sharpshooting Kirsch Crew

But all that aside, let’s just say that I have no real emotional attachment to these danged beasts. So today when I saw my dog Yukon take off out of the garage at Mach 4 all I had to do was yell “Squirrel!” and the chase began. Dad jumped to attention and ran to grab the shotgun. I watched as Yukon chased it up a tree, he sat below barking like crazy. I kept a close eye on the tree waiting to see where the thing was headed, as dad went running out the door shotgun in hand. At this point Yukon was having no part of the deal, he was a city dog for a few years and subsequently is now gun shy, so he crawled back into the garage, leaving this squirrel fight to the professionals (I mean my dad and I). So I was yelling from the house directions on where this monster was hiding on our giant black walnut tree outside. When I decided to head out there, because 4 eyes are better than two; however I did not grab a gun, when you’re running in circles around a tree really only one gun is better than two!

It took some doing, about 4 times running around the tree and finally dad could get a shot at the tail, it was a long shot, but he did it, BLAM! Another one hits the dust! This may sound a little redneck…well probably because is a little redneck. But who else can say that squirrel hunting trumps all other work while on the job?! Another good day to be a farmer, or just a country bumpkin!

She talks like a Farmer, and looks like a Farmer…but what about when she doesn’t?

I was listening to the radio today and the DJ was talking about what clothes look the worst on women. Apparently one of the worst offenders is the women’s overalls! And she was so annoyed because she said that she loves her gardening overalls, they make her feel more “farmer-ish”. So I got to thinking about if what we wear truly makes a difference to how “farmer-ish” we act or feel or even how other people perceive us? Personally I don’t wear overalls, although I’ve been seen in many pairs of coveralls, carharts, and my most recent favorite farmer clothing piece a Stormy Kromer. But I wonder if that makes me a better farmer, like when people wear suits to work to feel more professional and keep their attitude in the work place not as casual? I remember the first week I came back to the farm as the newly hired “Intern”. Dad looked at what I had on, one layer under a nice jacket with tennis shoes, and told me “Get in the pick-up Brenda, we need to take you to the farmer’s Nordstroms.” He took me to the feed & supply, bought me carharts to my heart’s content, layering shirts and work boots.

Well the most obvious reason we wear what we wear is because farming is dirty! I take after my dad in the fact that I can be out in the shop for about 35 seconds before I have grease somewhere on my face and dirt on my jeans. Secondly as an industry we are usually very active, so wearing something that is comfortable enough to jump on and off of trucks, climb in and around engines, and walk acres of fields is very necessary.  Practicality seems to be the best answer for many reasons why we farmers wear what we wear.

This girl looks like a farmer!

These reasons seem obvious; but are farmers concerned about their image as well? I think that yes definitely! Although every male farmer might disagree, I feel like we are more likely to trust someone who is wearing a plaid shirt than a plaid tie! If your shoes are shined we’re probably less likely to trust you right off the bat. I don’t know if this is good or bad, just making observations here and laughing at the fact that when I go into a bank people usually look at my dirty jeans, and muddy boots and aren’t too excited to have my tromping around their territory either.

At a wedding…not a chance she works in the dirt!

On the other hand I also think that my credibility sometimes goes down when I’m not dressed like a farmer, especially because I’m a female.  Because at first glance it’s usually not the guess that people give when they ask what I do, so when I answer, if I have heels on, they never believe me.  I’ve had people want to feel my hands to see if they are callused.  I had one person look at me and reply back, “Yeah and I’m an inventor!”  It’s very funny to me to see people’s reactions.  I think that I was more concerned about it at the start because I felt like I had to prove  I was serious about this job, but now I don’t really care.  I’m not going anywhere and dang it if I feel like I can pull off a nice shirt for work one day I’m going to do it, although I have to do it with the knowledge that now in 35 seconds it will be ruined!! But practicality always wins when it comes to wearing heels at work!