The Senate began debating the new farm bill Monday afternoon (May 20). The debate has already been contentious, but Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., told reporters attending the Delta Council annual meeting he believes a sense of bipartisanship will prevail and help win passage of the bill. Wicker saluted Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow and ranking member Sen. Thad Cochran for their work on moving the legislation, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013, out of committee.