The Department of Labor (DOL) announced it was dropping its proposed rule regarding youth and farm work. Instead, it will work with farm and agricultural organizations for better education to reduce accidents by farm youth. DOL said, “As a result, the Department of Labor is announcing today the withdrawal of the proposed rule dealing with children under the age of 16 who work in agricultural vocations. The decision to withdraw this rule, including provisions to define the 'parental exemption,' was made in response to thousands of comments expressing concerns about the effect of the proposed rules on small family-owned farms. To be clear, this regulation will not be pursued for the duration of the Obama administration. Instead, the Departments of Labor and Agriculture will work with rural stakeholders, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, the Future Farmers of America and 4-H to develop an educational program to reduce accidents to young workers and promote safer agricultural working practices."