Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 6/26/18

Shortly after the Senate voted to proceed with debate on the farm bill Monday night by a vote of 89-3, Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts told reporters he wants the sweeping agriculture and nutrition legislation to pass before the Fourth of July recess — a sprint that requires ironing out the amendment process, Pro Ag's Helena Bottemiller Evich, Catherine Boudreau and Liz Crampton report.

The path is expected to be much smoother than it was on the House side, where the GOP conference was divided and Democrats refused to support the bill over new work requirements for food stamp recipients. But Roberts also isn't taking any chances, and that means he may try to roll several lingering amendments into a manager's package instead of allowing a large number of issues to erupt on the floor.

Roberts told reporters Monday that no decision has been made on whether to limit amendments. But no matter how the process plays out, a number of senators and interest groups are using this opportunity to push for a long list of changes and additions, ranging from tightening eligibility for farm subsidies to overhauling sugar policy.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) told POLITICO on Monday he has assurances he'll be able to offer his amendment limiting the number of individuals per farm who can receive commodity subsidies; there's also a big push for checkoff reform from a bipartisan pair of senators, Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.). Still other groups are pushing for conservation and animal rights amendments.