Source: POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 12/4/18

The delayed release of USDA's proposed rule to rein in waivers that exempt some food stamp recipients from current work requirements could be an important selling point for the Trump administration as it looks to rally support for the bipartisan farm bill compromise.

Perdue said the rule will appeal to conservative lawmakers who are frustrated that House Republicans came up short in their push for stronger work requirements for millions of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients, Pro Ag's Helena Bottemiller Evich and Sarah Zimmerman report.

— The new timeline: USDA will issue the proposed rule after the farm bill is passed, the secretary said. The rule has been in the works for months and many had expected it to be released before the midterms, but the administration held off. Perdue previously said he didn't want to preempt Congress as they were negotiating the farm bill.

— USDA has been looking at ways to crack down on some 36 states that currently waive at least part of their SNAP populations from the existing three-month limit for able-bodied adults without dependents to receive benefits within a three-year period if they're not working at least 80 hours a month.

"Through regulation we'll be able to please those conservatives who expected more work requirements in the farm bill, as I did, as President Trump did," Perdue said after an Illinois Farm Bureau event in Chicago.

— Change of plans: Perdue was set to visit House Republicans today to help sell the bill, but those plans were canceled along with all votes in the House this week, owing to the passing of former President George H.W. Bush. Helena writes that the conference report likely won't be released until early next week, potentially setting up floor votes next week as well.

Congress is also getting set to punt the upcoming government funding deadline until Dec. 21, our POLITICO colleagues report. The move will delay a potential shutdown fight for two more weeks — setting up a showdown over President Donald Trump's border wall just days before Christmas.