The Nanny State strikes again. Notice that, in our modern confusion over the roles of the branches of government, these new “laws” don’t come from the legislature, but from the executive department.

Headline AP: California Bans Hand-Pulling of Weeds

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California became the first state Thursday to ban weeding by hand on most farms, saying the work is too backbreaking for laborers.

Under a rule approved by the California Occupational Safety and Health Division, farmworkers, in most cases, will not have to stoop to pull weeds, but will instead be given long-handled tools that will allow them to work without bending over. The rule takes effect within two weeks.

One very curious thing about this ban on weeding by hand.

Organic farmers who rely on hand-weeding are exempt from the rule.

“Because they don’t use pesticides, organic growers have more of a weed problem than non-organic growers,” Webb said. “Without an exemption, it would have jeopardized the organic industry.”

California’s OSHD is so concerned about the risk of hand weeding that they make it illegal, EXCEPT for the organic growers who need to weed by hand the most. The people who spend the most time weeding by hand, and therefore would presumably benefit the most by the regulation, are the very ones who will not get any benefit from it. I understand that they don’t want to put the organic growers out of business. But if it is acceptable there where it is done so much more, why do they have to interfere with the other farmers?

Well, in our house hold, we have instituted a ban on mowing, leaf raking, and taking out the garbage. However their is an exemption for teenaged boys. Perhaps we ought to add hand pulling of weeds to our list, just for safety’s sake.