Rural Issue

Seed detasselers voice concerns with child labor law proposals

Seed detasseling companies are expressing concern over changes to the child labor laws that have been proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor.   

They say that proposal could prevent youngsters who are under the age of 16 from detasseling.  It’s estimated that over 50 percent of seed detasslers nationwide are in the 13-15 age group that could be impacted. 

Thirteen year-old Haleigh Seizys of Lincoln, Nebraska was a first year detassler in 2011. She says it was a great experience.

“It really taught me what it’s like to persevere through hard work and tough conditions,” Seizys says, “and I learned a lot about teamwork as well.”

AUDIO: Haleigh Seizys (2:35 MP3)

Brad Hansen of Ceresco, Nebraska is 18. He has detasseled for the past five years.

“It’s been an excellent opportunity for me to develop a work ethic, develop character, and to make a great amount of money for my age,” Hansen says. “The past couple summers, I’ve made right around 25-hundred dollars for three weeks work—and I just can’t make that at any other job.”

AUDIO: Brad Hansen (2:45 MP3)

Dawn Buell owns and operates NATS Detasseling of Lincoln.  She employs 500 teenagers each summer, about 40 percent of whom are under 16.

“I believe it would really have such a detrimental effect, I’m not sure it would be worth staying in business any more, quite frankly,” Buell says.

If the teen labor force is cut, Buell says many companies would likely turn to migrant labor to get the job done.

AUDIO: Dawn Buell (2:17 MP3)

Nebraska Farm Bureau national affairs coordinator Jordan Dux says it’s just another example of federal government overreach.

“We have been concerned for the past few years on federal government really trying to sink its hands—and really regulate—what farmers and ranchers do a very daily basis,” says Dux.

AUDIO: Jordan Dux (6:27 MP3)

Thursday (December 1st) is the last day to submit comments on those proposed child labor law changes to the U.S. Department of Labor.

AUDIO: News conference remarks-Nebraska State Capitol (26:46 MP3)

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