Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 7/17/18

House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway said Monday evening he is in the middle of "intense negotiations" with GOP leadership and Democrats about when to schedule a vote on a motion to head to a farm bill conference — a key procedural step toward talks with the Senate. The Texas Republican, during a interview on AgriTalk, said the House could vote Thursday, but ranking member Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) has to return to his district unexpectedly and wouldn't be in town that day. (His office declined to comment.)

"He won't be here Thursday," Conaway told reporters later in the day, adding that lawmakers instead are discussing holding the vote Wednesday or pushing it to Monday in order to be respectful of Democrats who want Peterson at the vote. "I've got this clock running and the quicker I can get stuff done the better. Leadership is chewing on it right now."

Also next week, House Speaker Paul Ryan may decide which lawmakers will serve on the farm bill conference committee, Conaway said during the radio interview. While it won't be limited to those on the Agriculture Committee, Conaway is trying to have as many Republican members as possible because he'll need all the help he can get, the Texas congressman said.