(Grand Island Independent) -- Not even Pope Benedict XVI being in Washington, D.C., will be enough of a miracle for Congress to pass a new Farm Bill by its Friday deadline, said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., Wednesday. "It's pretty clear we won't make the April 18 deadline," Nelson said. "We still have a number of challenges to overcome on priorities on issues, such as energy funding and funding for emergency disaster relief." Both the House and Senate Wednesday passed a one-week extension of the current Farm Bill to April 25. Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., a member of the House Agriculture Committee, said he is frustrated about the additional extension of the Farm Bill deadline. "Just a little over a month ago, Congress had to pass the second extension of the Farm Bill to avoid its expiration," he said. Smith said it has been more than eight months since the House first passed the Farm Bill and nearly four months since the Senate passed its version. But the House and Senate have yet to reach an agreement on a final bill.
