Reports of a deal are greatly exagerrated

One produce industry lobbyist said there were rumors earlier in the week that the Senate has come to grips with a deal that would allow the farm bill debate to advance. However, the lobbyist said those expectations have been shot down by those closer to the process.

Likewise, Sally Schuff, writing for Feedstuffs in a story with yesterday's dateline, confirmed with Senate Agriculture Committee press secretary Kate Cyrul that no deal had been struck yet.
Possible amendments that Senate leaders are being pressured to consider include amendments on repeal of the estate tax, reform of the alternative minimum tax and even AgJobs.

It would be great to say that failure is not an option. Unfortunately, failure - and the waste of tens of thousand of hours of work toward a farm bill that is more equitable for the fruit and vegetable industry - is rushing headlong toward a divided Senate.