Before passing farm bill, Congress has a big fight over wildfires to get through

A fight over Republican-backed measures to mitigate wildfires is contributing to a delay in passage of the 2018 farm bill.

Democrats and Republicans are haggling over who to blame for Congress missing a deadline to reauthorize the farm bill, which primarily sets and funds agriculture and food policy, as they seek an agreement on a long-term deal rather than a short extension.

Disagreement over food stamps is the main issue dividing the House and Senate, but an unresolved dispute over forest management projects for wildfires is also disrupting the process.

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