Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 12/3/18

House and Senate ag leaders have been pushing to release a conference report early this week, in order to pass the final legislation before Friday. The goal was to get the farm bill through Congress before funding for several agencies (including the Agriculture Department and FDA) expires on Friday, so the sprawling farm and food legislation wouldn't get caught up in any sort of government shutdown fight.

That timeline is now in flux. Congress will take time this week to honor the late former President George H.W. Bush, putting some legislative activities on hold. Republican leaders, in light of the 41st President's passing, are considering a short-term appropriations measure to delay the funding fight another week or two.

Trump said Sunday he'd support punting the shutdown deadline, POLITICO's Burgess Everett, John Bresnahan and Andrew report.

What it means for the farm bill: There's less pressure to finish up this week without the funding cliff bearing down on lawmakers. On the other hand, leaving a major bipartisan compromise out in the open for too long allows more time for critics to rally opposition. Speaking of which ...

Conservatives grumble over SNAP concessions: Some influential conservatives have started to complain about the farm bill compromise, which scraps the stricter work requirements in the House bill, Pro Ag's Helena Bottemiller Evich reported.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), a ringleader in the Freedom Caucus, fired off a feisty farm bill tweet on Friday.

The Freedom Caucus is not likely to be anywhere near as powerful this time around, since some Democrats are expected to back the bipartisan deal. But the marker Jordan put down hints at a potential challenge for House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway (R-Texas) as he tries to rally support for the compromise.

— The Daily Signal, published by the conservative Heritage Foundation, dubbed the legislation "a nightmare farm bill for conservatives."

Perdue hits the hill: Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is slated to help sell the farm bill deal on Capitol Hill this week. The former Republican governor of Georgia is scheduled to appear at a House whip meeting on Tuesday night to field questions from lawmakers and senior staff.