Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 8/2/18

Senate leadership named nine lawmakers to the farm bill conference committee Wednesday before commuting home to their respective states for two weeks. The upper chamber will return on Aug. 14.

As expected, five Republicans and four Democrats were named to the panel charged with sorting out differences between the House and Senate measures.

Republicans will be represented by McConnell, Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, John Boozman, John Hoeven and Joni Ernst. Ranking member Debbie Stabenow, Patrick Leahy, Sherrod Brown and Heidi Heitkamp will serve as the Democratic members.

Heitkamp skipped four spots of seniority, taking what would have been Amy Klobuchar's seat. That strategic favor came as Heitkamp is facing a tough reelection challenge from Rep. Kevin Cramer.

Phone a friend lifeline: Even with both chambers out of town, the big four ag leaders have committed to weekly phone calls and constant communication among staff to work out conference issues. But not a lot of time remains: McConnell has set an ambitious Labor Day deadline for a conference report, and the Sept. 30 deadline to get a farm bill signed by the president isn't too far after that.