Summary
In Bartlett v. Darrah, 76 Idaho 460, 285 P.2d 138 (1955), this Court held that the clearing of trees for the development of land was an agricultural pursuit since the logging was incidental to the main purpose of developing the land for pasturage.
Summary of this case from Reedy v. TrummellOpinion
No. 8280.
June 14, 1955.
APPEAL FROM INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT BOARD.
J.H. Felton and William J. Jones, Lewiston, for appellant.
Cox, Ware Stellmon, Lewiston, for respondent.
We find that the words "agricultural pursuit" under Words and Phrases are almost solely defined by the Idaho Courts. We find no case where a person has been engaged in any kind of forestry work which supports the respondent's contention that the cutting of saw logs upon lands for any purpose is an "agricultural pursuit." Cases well known are: Dorrell v. Norida Land Timber Co., 53 Idaho 793, 27 P.2d 960; Cook v. Massey, 38 Idaho 264, 220 P. 1088, 35 A.L.R. 200.
But of chief interest at this time is the case of Mundell v. Swedlund, 59 Idaho 29, 80 P.2d 13, which defines the various terms, and places one of the barriers towards the further enlargement of the words "agricultural pursuit."
Clearing of wood land, if a mere incident to farming operations, is itself a farming operation or "an agricultural pursuit". Brockett v. Mietz, 184 App. Div. 342, 171 N.Y.S. 412; Mullen v. Little, 186 App. Div. 169, 173 N.Y.S. 578; McAllister v. Cobb, 237 App. Div. 674, 263 N.Y.S. 349; Butterfield v. Brown, 261 App. Div. 1022, 25 N.Y.S.2d 803; Davis v. Ryan, 262 App. Div. 982, 30 N.Y.S.2d 17.
Employment that is casual, incidental, only occasional, intermittent, without regularity and for a limited and temporary purpose only is not covered by the Workmen's Compensation Act. Orr v. Boise Cold Storage Co., 52 Idaho 151, 12 P.2d 270; Rabideau v. Cramer, 59 Idaho 154, 81 P.2d 403; Dawson v. Joe Chester A.L. Co., 62 Idaho 508, 112 P.2d 494; Bigley v. Smith, 64 Idaho 185, 129 P.2d 658; Arbogast v. Jerome Co-op. Creamery, 65 Idaho 556, 149 P.2d 230; Lail v. Bishop, 70 Idaho 284, 216 P.2d 955; Vogl v. Smythe, 74 Idaho 115, 258 P.2d 355.
The word "pursuit" as used in the Workmen's Compensation law means: that which one engages in as an occupation, trade or profession; that which is followed as a continued, or at least extended and prolonged, employment. Dorrell v. Norida Land Timber Co., 53 Idaho 793, at page 802, 27 P.2d 960.
The respondent, Darrah, is a farmer and cattle grower. He operates a farm near Gifford, consisting of 800 acres of cultivated land and 200 acres of rough and hilly timber and pasture land. This 200 acres had been cut over some years ago and does not now have a good stand of merchantable timber. Three times during the past six years, including the occasion in 1954 when claimant was injured, the respondent had cut a few trees on this land, hauled them to a nearby custom mill, where they were sawed into lumber, and the lumber and waste were returned to the farm for use thereon. The recovery on each of these three occasions was seven or eight thousand board-feet of lumber. It was not produced for sale and none has been sold. A machine shed and a shop were built on the farm, in which some of the lumber so produced was used.
In 1954, prior to the accident, respondent had two of his regularly employed farm hands cut and skid logs from about twenty trees. This work was done intermittently at times when, because of weather or other conditions, farm work was not in progress. On July 4, 1954, respondent invited claimant to help in hauling these logs to the mill. Respondent testified that there was no agreement as to wages, he assuming that claimant would do the work in return for pea silage, which he had given to the claimant in January. Claimant testified it was agreed he would be paid $15 per day, plus $25 per day for the use of his truck. Claimant was also a farmer, living on a neighboring farm. On July 5th he brought his truck and assisted in hauling logs. About 6:00 p.m., while unloading at the mill, he was injured.
The evidence also shows that grass seed was sown in the areas where the trees were removed, and that one of the purposes in removal of the trees was to improve the pasturage.
The board found:
"Darrah's clearing and logging operations were intermittent and performed at opportune times when his farm hands were not pressed with other work. They were not conducted for the purpose of selling the lumber nor because of his own immediate need of lumber. They were conducted pursuant to a long range development plan to enlarge his pasture and ultimately to build improvements."
As rulings of law, the board concluded:
"The board finds that the clearing and logging operations of Darrah were sporadic and incidental to his farming operations, and were not conducted for pecuniary gain as a logging enterprize.
"The board rules that the employment in which Bartlett was injured was an agricultural pursuit and not covered employment under the Workmen's Compensation Law."
Under our statute, § 72-105a, I.C., the Workmen's Compensation Act does not apply to:
"1. Agricultural pursuits. Agricultural pursuits, as used herein, shall include the care-taking and handling of livestock on enclosed lands and public ranges.
* * * * * *
"3. Casual employment.
* * * * * *
"8. Employment which is not carried on by the employer for the sake of pecuniary gain.",
unless an election of coverage is made and filed by the employer, pursuant to § 72-105b, I.C.
The board made no specific finding on the defense urged by respondent that the claimant's employment was casual.
There is little or no conflict in the evidence as to the facts determining the character of the employment. The board's findings and conclusions are fully supported. In Mundell v. Swedlund, this court recognized
"the rule that the occupation or pursuit as a whole is the controlling factor, in determining whether an employee is engaged as a farm laborer or in an agricultural pursuit, rather than the immediate task being performed or the place of performance of such task". Mundell v. Swedlund, 59 Idaho 29, at page 36, 80 P.2d 13, at page 16.
Here it is clear the employer's occupation or pursuit was agricultural, and that the immediate task being performed by claimant was incidental thereto, so that claimant was at the time engaged in an agricultural pursuit.
The employer, not having elected coverage, the employment does not come within the Act and is not compensable. Cook v. Massey, 38 Idaho 264, 220 P. 1088, 35 A.L.R. 200; Dorrell v. Norida Land Timber Co., 53 Idaho 793, 27 P.2d 960; Carstens Packing Co. v. Industrial Accident Board, 63 Idaho 613, 123 P.2d 1001; Reed v. Russell, 67 Idaho 84, 172 P.2d 853; Miller Lux, Inc., v. Industrial Accident Comm., 179 Cal. 764, 178 P. 960, 7 A.L.R. 1291; Johnson v. Department of Labor Industries, 182 Wn. 351, 47 P.2d 6; Brockett v. Mietz, 184 App. Div. 342, 171 N.Y.S. 412; Mullen v. Little, 186 App. Div. 169, 173 N.Y.S. 578; McAllister v. Cobb, 237 App. Div. 674, 263 N.Y.S. 349; Bradley v. Blakely, La.App., 154 So. 415; Powell v. Industrial Comm., 193 Wis. 38, 213 N.W. 651; Hagelstad v. Usiak, 190 Minn. 513, 252 N.W. 430; Stahl v. Patrick, 206 Minn. 413, 288 N.W. 854; Robinson v. Stockley, 166 Tenn. 380, 61 S.W.2d 677; Annotation 7 A.L.R. 1296; Annotation 13 A.L.R. 955; Annotation 35 A.L.R. 208; Annotation 43 A.L.R. 954; Annotation 107 A.L.R. 977; Annotation 140 A.L.R. 399.
The order is affirmed. Costs to respondent.
KEETON, PORTER, ANDERSON and SMITH, JJ., concur.