Peach Tree Times

Georgia's Attorney General Chris Carr has expressed concerns over the Biden administration's wage increases, stating they will render farming "unaffordable." He indicated a willingness to collaborate with former President Donald Trump to reduce costs for Georgia farmers. Carr articulated his stance in a December 6 post on X.

"The wage increases imposed by the Biden administration will make farming simply unaffordable," said General Chris Carr. "We're ready to work with President Trump to lower costs for Georgia farmers as we continue to grow our state's No. 1 industry."

According to Carr, he has sent a letter to Trump's nominees for U.S. Secretaries of Labor and Agriculture regarding the rising Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for H-2A guest farm workers. He warned that if the AEWR is implemented in 2025, Georgia farmers could face a 9.5 percent wage increase, following previous hikes under the Biden administration. Carr reiterated his earlier request to Labor Secretary Julie Su and Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack to halt these increases, which was denied.

Attorney General Chris Carr x post | X

The AEWRs are minimum wage rates that employers must offer and pay to H-2A workers and workers in corresponding employment. These rates are determined by the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) Administrator to protect U.S. workers from wage suppression due to foreign labor. The wage rates are adjusted annually based on various indices and data sources, as outlined by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Carr, appointed as Georgia's attorney general by then-Governor Nathan Deal in 2016, was re-elected in November 2022. Since assuming office, he has focused on addressing issues such as human trafficking, gang activity, and opioid misuse. His initiatives include establishing the state's first Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit and Gang Prosecution Unit.