Farm Bill Intrigue The Senate has had its say on a 2012 Farm Bill, but on the House side negotiations are hot and heavy over whether it can even pass a simple extension of policy with some added drought disaster assistance. House Agriculture Committee Ranking member Colin Peterson (D-Minnesota) seemed to counter USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack's hyperventilation over the need for a bill by saying, "There is no crisis here, other than it would be nice to get this done." At the same time, Peterson says he will not support passage of a simple extension. And Senate Democrats are expressing disfavor with the simple extension concept. The House Republican leadership is in a pickle over how to proceed. A simple extension with added disaster provisio...