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Are there enough votes for farm bill extension?

It’s beginning to look like chances that Congress will pass a one-year extension of the current farm bill this week are getting pretty slim. There are growing indications there are not enough votes in the House and Republican leadership may pull the bill before it is scheduled to come to the floor Wednesday.

Congressman Collin Peterson, ranking member on the House Ag Committee has said all-along he would not back the extension unless it directly leads to a conference on the next farm bill. Meanwhile conservative Republicans who oppose the proposed farm bill say they will not back any extension which might be a “backdoor attempt to conference a five-year farm bill.”

House and Senate Ag Committee leaders met Tuesday morning to work on the situation.