Source:  POLITICO'S MORNING AGRICULTURE, 5/3/19

Lawmakers seem to be feeling the pressure to get aid to communities reeling from hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, extreme flooding and other disasters. Many places where agriculture is vital to the economy have been hit by the destruction.

Senators said late Thursday that a compromise bill could be ready for a Senate floor vote next week, report POLITICO's Caitlin Emma, Jennifer Scholtes and Marianne LeVine.

The Trump card: Senate Republicans are said to have worked out a deal behind closed doors this week to increase money to Puerto Rico. The president is "on board," according to Sen. David Perdue. But Trump has been known to change his mind, so anything could happen.

A hefty price tag: Agricultural losses in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina from disasters have recently totaled nearly $5.5 billion, per the American Farm Bureau Federation. Losses in Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri are estimated to be more than $3 billion.

Some progress at last: Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and ranking Democrat Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) told reporters that talks are progressing after Senate Republicans laid out a new offer this week.

The politics remain dicey: "We have to tug along our caucuses and the White House," Leahy said. "But we're getting closer."