For the first time in four decades the U.S. House of Representatives defeated the Farm Bill by a 30-vote margin (195-234). After the bill passed the House Agricultural Committee in May and the Senate approved its version last week, leaders in key agricultural groups were optimistic, however the bill failed to be passed by the House despite farm bills historically garnering bipartisan support. Disagreements on how far to cut supplemental nutritional programs, especially food stamps seem to have doomed the bill. The 2008 Farm Bill was extended on New Year’s and will expire on September 30th and many farm groups expect it to be extended for another year or two.