The Senate passed an extension of the 2002 Farm Bill to give its and House Agriculture Committee leaders more time to try to reach an agreement with the White House on a new farm bill.

The House was considering similar legislation, which would extend the expiration date of the current law from March 15 to April 18. Congress extended the 2002 law to March 15 shortly before it would have expired last Sept. 30.

“Talks continue on a bipartisan basis between Senate and House negotiators and each day brings us closer to resolution,” says Sen. Tom Harkin, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and one of a group of farm-state congressmen who have been meeting with Bush administration officials on the farm bill.

Continue reading about the farm bill extension...