Arizona Grazing Dispute Draws USDA, GOP Support As Solar Project Threatens Rancher’s Livelihood

A fifth-generation Arizona rancher is appealing to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Lawfare Portal after a proposed large-scale solar project on Arizona State Trust Land placed his family’s long-held grazing operation at the center of an escalating dispute over land use and renewable energy development.

Casey Murph, whose family has operated cattle ranching in Arizona since before statehood, says actions tied to a proposed solar development threaten his family’s grazing lease and multi-generational livelihood.

Murph discussed the dispute Friday with Real America’s Voice host Grant Stinchfield, explaining that the proposed solar project would not be built on his deeded property but on a state grazing allotment his ranch depends upon.

He explained: “They’ve applied for my state grazing. It’s called an allotment. We don’t have enough private land in Arizona to run very many cows, so we almost all of us Arizona ranchers depend on either a federal or state grazing allotment in order to have enough forage for our cows to survive.So it’s not on my land, but it’s on land that my family has raised for 100 years, and if it happens Grant, it’s gonna knock me out in a pretty bad way because I’ve tied up my retirement in this, and you know, buying out all my relatives to buy the allotment and buy the ranch and cattle. So I won’t have a way to make a living if it happens, which is personally gonna be devastating.” 

Murph argued the dispute reflects broader pressures affecting domestic cattle production, adding, “It’s this kind of stuff that’s not good for the nation as a whole because this kind of stuff is the reason why our beef prices are so high, and I really wish people would start seeing that.”

ARIZONA RANCHER FIGHTS FOR HIS LAND

“Our family has grazed this land for 100 years.” Arizona rancher Casey Murph says a proposed solar project could threaten his livelihood and a century-old family operation.@stinchfield1776 @caseymurph1 pic.twitter.com/NADB8DFbic

— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) May 30, 2026

Murph told Stinchfield that his cause has found support from the Trump Administration and from elected officials in Arizona, including State Sen. Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ1), and Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ2)

In a statement posted on X, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said Murph had submitted his case through USDA’s Lawfare Portal and criticized the potential impact of the proposed solar project on the ranching operation.

“Casey Murph and his family have run cattle on their Arizona ranch since before Arizona was even a state. Now he’s submitted to the USDA’s Lawfare Portal asking for help,” Rollins wrote. “His multi-generational ranch and family legacy are facing eviction if Arizona chooses to cancel his state grazing lease to allow an industrial-scale solar company to blanket the land with unreliable solar panels.” She added, “The President and our administration have been clear: we’re not letting radical green energy scams steamroll our ranchers, our beef supply, or our way of life — and we are on top of this.” Rollins further argued that “reliance on solar threatens our national security by making the United States dependent on supply chains controlled by foreign adversaries.”

Casey Murph and his family have run cattle on their Arizona ranch since before Arizona was even a state. Now he’s submitted to the USDA’s Lawfare Portal asking for help. His multi-generational ranch and family legacy are facing eviction if Arizona chooses to cancel his state…

— Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) May 26, 2026

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), who is running for governor, also weighed in and shared video of remarks made during a campaign event.

“Casey and his family have been AZ ranchers for generations, but Katie Hobbs wants to put them out of business,” Biggs said. “Why? She wants a solar farm on state land. She doesn’t get what makes our state great. I do. And I’ll protect ranchers like Casey as Governor.”

.@caseymurph1 & his family have been AZ ranchers for generations, but Katie Hobbs wants to put them out of business.

Why? She wants a solar farm on state land.

She doesn’t get what makes our state great.

I do. And I’ll protect ranchers like Casey as Governor.#GoBiggsOrGoHome pic.twitter.com/7Lhne7g0kS

— Andy Biggs (@andybiggs4az) May 27, 2026

Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) expressed support for Murph and Biggs, writing on X: “Rural Arizonans matter. They should be prioritized over these green new deal scams.”

Murph has used social media to rally public attention to the dispute and encourage public participation in the state review process.

On May 29, Murph posted an update responding to a statement released by the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD).

“Arizona state land department responding to concerned citizens about my situation,” Murph wrote. “This statement does not change the situation. We still are threatened with eviction from the state allotment.”

In a statement posted on X, ASLD said it does not maintain a policy prioritizing solar development over grazing or other uses of State Trust Land and emphasized that the proposed solar project remains in preliminary review.

“We’re seeing discussion about solar projects on State Trust Land and grazing leases. To be clear, ASLD has no policy prioritizing solar over any other use,” the department wrote. “We manage a perpetual trust and have a responsibility to evaluate every application based on its benefit/impact to the trust.”

The department emphasized Arizona’s ranching heritage and stated that overlap between grazing leases and proposed projects is common because grazing leases cover approximately 90 percent of State Trust Land.

“Overlap with grazing leases is common since they cover 90% of STL,” ASLD stated. “We work closely with lessees and applicants on any potential lease amendments, do not cancel them outright, and avoid critical grazing areas.”

ASLD added that the proposed Orsted solar project remains “in the very early stages of evaluation” while the department and applicant continue due diligence and said it remains committed to “continued good-faith communication” with Murph as the lessee.

Murph disputed the department’s characterization and argued the public statement reflected concern over growing scrutiny of the project.

Murph wrote that the ASLD response “shows that ASLD is concerned about the optics and public scrutiny” and encouraged Arizona voters to submit comments opposing actions affecting the grazing lease.

The dispute reflects broader debates in Arizona over how State Trust Land should balance long-standing agricultural uses with growing pressure for renewable energy development.