Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 7/24/18

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts hopes today is the day senators will green-light the process of formally reconciling the House and Senate farm bills — it's just up to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's schedule. Roberts told reporters Monday night that a vote on a motion to move to conference is likely to take place either today or Wednesday. Regardless of the timing, Roberts said Congress' top four Agriculture leaders will meet on Wednesday to begin hashing out the details.

The numbers game: Roberts expects nine senators will be named to the conference committee to go toe-to-toe with the 47 members selected for the panel by House leadership.

"I am delighted that I will have 47 of the House members over to greet me with whatever advice and council they have," Roberts said, tongue in cheek. When asked what he plans to tell House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway about the Senate bill, Roberts simply said: "It passed 86-11."