The U.S. House and Senate have voted to extend the farm bill for nine months, bringing a disappointing end to efforts by farm lobbyists to enact a new five-year farm bill in 2012.

CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS By Ellyn Ferguson, CQ Staff Forty-six groups armed with speeches and “Farm Bill Now” buttons plan to lay out the case this week for Congress to pass a five-year reauthorization before the current law expires Sept. 30.

House GOP leaders are readying a one-year extension of farm and nutrition programs that includes disaster aid for drought-affected farmers, lawmakers said Thursday.

Today, the House Agriculture Committee approved its version of the farm bill by a vote of 35 to 11. The bill would reduce spending by $35 billion over 10 years, mainly by cutting about $16.5 billion from the food stamps program.

Progress continues on the Farm Bill, as the U.S. Senate successfully passed its version by a vote of 64-35.