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Reps. Kristi Noem (R-SD/AL), Jim Costa (D-CA/16), Adrian Smith (R-NE/3), and Mike McIntyre (D-NC/7) today led 83 members from both sides of the aisle in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez urging the agency to stop using funds to regulate small farming operations.

“Farmers and landowners have a strong vested and personal interest in keeping their operations safe and viable, and they are already subject to countless regulations to ensure operational integrity,” the Members wrote.  “We ask you to direct OSHA … to issue an updated memo clarifying OSHA has no authority to regulate any aspect of an agricultural operation with ten or fewer employees.”

Since 1976, Congress has banned OSHA from regulating farming operations with ten or fewer employees.  However, in 2011, OSHA issued a memo indicating the Agency has authority to regulate “post-harvest” activities which could include storage, fumigation, and drying - processes common on farms of all sizes.

To view a copy of the letter, please click here.  You can also view a copy of the text below.

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The Honorable Thomas E. Perez, Secretary

U.S. Department of Labor

200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20210

Dear Secretary Perez:

Since 1976, Congress has statutorily prohibited the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from using funds to regulate farming operations with ten or fewer employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1976.  We are now receiving reports OSHA has begun taking enforcement action against small farms based on an operations memo issued June 28, 2011, entitled “OSHA’s authority to perform enforcement activities at small farms with grain storage structures involved in postharvest crop activities.”  

While the memo, issued by OSHA Director of Enforcement Programs Thomas Galassi, acknowledges current law prohibits OSHA from regulating small farms engaged in growing and harvesting crops and any "related activities,” the memo proceeds to indicate grain “handling,” such as drying and fumigating, is not central to an agricultural operation and is therefore subject to OSHA regulation.  The memo has since been broadly interpreted to provide OSHA inspectors authority to regulate on-farm grain storage and other activities not directly related to growing and harvest.

Farmers and landowners have a strong vested and personal interest in keeping their operations safe and viable, and they are already subject to countless regulations to ensure operational integrity.  If the Administration believes OSHA should be given authority to regulate small farming operations, evidence would need to be presented to Congress and passed through the normal legislative process. 

We thank you for your recent acknowledgement of the issue and ask you to direct OSHA to adhere to the intent of Congress by terminating and retroactively dismissing all action taken based on the abovementioned interpretation, and issue an updated memo clarifying OSHA has no authority to regulate any aspect of an agricultural operation with ten or fewer employees.  While the Fiscal Year 2014 Omnibus includes a provision prohibiting enforcement, smaller farmers and ranchers need the certainty of knowing OSHA will continue following the letter of the law in future years.  

Thank you for your attention to this matter.  We look forward to a timely response.