Senate Joins House in Passing Farm, Crop Insurance Bill; President Says He Will Sign

The Senate passed and sent to President Barack Obama a measure that sets U.S. agricultural policy for five years, ending the toughest legislative battle on renewal of the farm bill in almost two decades with cuts to crop subsidies and food stamps. The Democratic-led Senate voted 68-32 today on the bill, joining the Republican-controlled House that cleared the bill last week. The measure, which Obama said he will sign, ends a $5 billion annual crop-subsidy program and relies on insurance as the main form of farm aid.