Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 6/14/18

The chances that Congress will get a farm bill done by Sept. 30 seem more likely after some major developments in both chambers.

The Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday approved its version of the farm bill by a vote of 20-1 after a relatively drama-free markup. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is on the committee, reiterated that he wants to bring the bill to the floor before the Fourth of July recess.

Over in the House: Late Tuesday, GOP leadership worked out a deal to bring up two immigration bills to a vote next week, including the conservative measure by Rep. Bob Goodlatte that the Freedom Caucus wanted brought up before committing votes to the farm bill. And with a vote on that in place, Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) told reporters on Wednesday that he was ready to vote in favor of House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway's farm bill.

Meadows' support is potentially huge. It signals that other conservatives are likely to get in line and give Conaway the votes he needs to get the bill, H.R. 2 (115), passed before a June 22 deadline, Pro Ag's Liz Crampton reports.

A caveat: Meadows told reporters on Wednesday that he isn't crazy about the entire farm bill and plans to press for limiting subsidy payments made to farmers. Meadows had tried to get an amendment to the floor in the House bill but was stymied by the Rules Committee.

"Now am I happy with everything in the farm bill? No," Meadows said. "Am I working with my Senate colleagues to get a better farm bill? The answer is yes."

When 2 become 1: The Senate bill, S. 3042 (115), which spans more than 1,000 pages, diverges in many ways from the House version, setting up a potentially difficult conference if both bills can make it through their chambers.

The biggest point of contention between the two bills is sure to be over the SNAP, which makes up the vast majority of the farm bill's costs.

SNAP to it: The Senate bill was built on such a firm consensus on the nutrition title that not a single member of the Senate Agriculture Committee offered an amendment related to SNAP, report Pro Ag's Helena Bottemiller Evich and Catherine Boudreau.

In contrast, the House farm bill's nutrition title was widely blamed for causing a complete breakdown in bipartisan negotiations. "I think that's very unfortunate that's where the House wants to go," Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Robertssaid during a news conference after markup. "We'll just have to see and hope that at least some version of the farm bill will pass."