The Senate Agriculture Committee approved its farm bill on a near-unanimous vote, 20-1, sending the bill to the Senate floor for a debate by the end of the month.

Leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee have reached agreement on a bipartisan farm bill that would keep the 2014 farm law largely intact while avoiding a partisan fight over food stamps.

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts forcefully rejected proposed farm bill reforms that would make the Agriculture Risk Coverage program more attractive and increase payments to farmers in the upper Midwest at the expense of producers in other regions.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he plans to introduce legislation to legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity, a familiar move that could help pave the way for more growth in his home state.

The Senate today voted to end the partial government shutdown, now in its third day. The vote on the procedural measure was 81-18, with Democrats joining Republicans to provide well more than the 60 vote super-majority needed.

A government shutdown threatens to continue into the work week with lawmakers and the White House deadlocked over a short-term funding extension amid Democratic demands for an agreement on legalizing the Dreamers.

President Trump puts a focus on agriculture and rural America as he heads to Nashville to address the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual convention on Monday in his first major speech since signing the sweeping tax bill before Christmas.