Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 7/25/18

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) suggested Tuesday that leadership may not select him for the farm bill conference committee — an outcome that could hinder his quest to tighten restrictions on subsidy payments. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who has been eyeing the process as a way to increase Conservation Reserve Program acreage, may also get left out, Grassley said.

Leadership is wavering between appointing seven and nine members to the panel, and if only five Republicans get seats, then Grassley and Thune may not be in the room as membership is determined by seniority on the committee.

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) brushed off concerns that the pair could effectively get shut out of conference negotiations. Grassley, he said, is "quite capable of making his case" to the committee, even if he's not named to its ranks. "Mr. Grassley knows that we were trying to keep our numbers down," Roberts said. "The conference members will be more than happy to address any concern by Sen. Grassley and Sen. Thune — they're very capable of making their views known, and we'll consider them very carefully, if they come."

Conference vote unclear: Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hasn't set a specific date for when the Senate will vote to officially kick off conference talks. Roberts has been optimistic the vote would take place early this week, but said Tuesday it could now occur toward the end of the week, potentially on Thursday. "It's coming down to the wire," he said.