(AP) -- Negotiators on a five-year, $300 billion farm bill say they have reached a tentative agreement on the legislation and it will be considered by the House and Senate next week. But the Bush administration has objected to the bill, and the White House says it seems unlikely that Congress will pass farm legislation the president can sign. President Bush has said the bill is bloated with farmer subsidies in a time of record crop prices and is too expensive. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, a Democrat, said after meetings Wednesday that the negotiating is finished, but he acknowledged that some minor issues remain unresolved. The agreement would eliminate some government payments to individuals who make more than $750,000 in farm income annually, which would be closer to the White House's proposal on limiting subsidies. Those who make more than $500,000 in non-farm income would also be ineligible for subsidies. The Bush administration originally proposed a cap for those who make more than $200,000 in annual gross income. Two-thirds of the legislation is nutrition programs, including food stamps. Lawmakers agreed last month to provide more than $10 billion extra over 10 years for those programs. The bill would also expand subsidies for several crops and create new grants for vegetable and fruit growers. The legislation would also increase loan rates for sugar producers, extend dairy programs and provide more dollars for renewable energy and conservation programs to protect environmentally sensitive farm land.
