Anxiety builds over farm bill

Congress looks unlikely to pass a new $500 billion farm law or extend the current bill until at least November as lawmakers finish their last week of work in Washington before leaving to gear up for the general election.

The 2008 farm bill expires Sept. 30. And with lawmakers set to work only three days this week before leaving Friday, a shrinking calendar has combined with the inability of lawmakers to agree on the best path forward to doom any chance for action. Some Republicans have pushed for extending the current bill for as much as a year, but Democrats in the House and the Senate are opposed.