Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ) was at the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters this week for the signing of a new federal agreement aimed at shielding farmers and ranchers from what supporters are calling regulatory and legal overreach.
The agreement, known as a Memorandum of Understanding, formally links the USDA's Lawfare Portal with the Small Business Administration's Office of National Ombudsman, creating a joint process for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints from agricultural producers who say they've been targeted by burdensome regulations or drawn-out litigation.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler signed the agreement, with Crane among the lawmakers present for the ceremony.
Before the signing, a roundtable gave farmers and ranchers from across the country the chance to share their experiences firsthand. Two Arizona families brought the issue close to the congressman's home state.
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Dustin and Becki Ross of Windmill Mountain Ranch described how their Forest Service grazing allotment has been held up for more than two years by archaeological clearance requirements that have blocked even basic maintenance on their property.
A 2021 drought triggered a significant cut to their herd capacity, and damage to their fences from a wildfire has left them unable to fully rebuild even after some restrictions were lifted.
Casey and Meggan Murph of H Bar and Y Ranch, whose family has run cattle on Arizona state land near Holbrook since before statehood, said their grazing lease could be displaced by a solar project proposed by a Danish energy company. Despite raising concerns publicly, the family said they've received no clear answers from state officials.
Crane said the new agreement signals a shift in how the federal government treats agricultural producers. "Farmers and ranchers are the foundation of a strong and thriving nation," he said. "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, Secretary Rollins, and Administrator Loeffler, those days of bureaucratic neglect are over."
Over the past two years, the USDA Lawfare Portal has received more than 400 complaints from producers in 47 states documenting similar experiences.
