It’s must-pass, but not guaranteed and challenging.

WASHINGTON – Louisiana ranchers, sugar cane and soybean farmers cornered congresspersons and regulators last week as the Farm Bill began its legislative journey that will end on the president’s desk, they hope, sometime this year.

A group of Louisiana rice farmers are expected to be on Capitol Hill this week doing pretty much the same.

The Farm Bill, first crafted in 1933 to help keep farmers solvent during the Great Depression, has long subsidized farmers and ranchers. But it also has important implications for city dwellers, as roughly 80% of the money it authorizes pays for nutrition programs used largely by urbanites, such as food stamps and school lunches. The legislation also authorizes spending for conservation initiatives and a wide range of other policies.

It is one of the few must-pass bills when it comes up for renewal every five years. Generally, its passage is hailed as a triumph that bridges other nasty gulfs created by differences between Republicans and Democrats and between rural and urban representatives.

This year, however, could prove challenging as Congress reflects a polarized nation that finds compromises increasingly difficult. It took 15 votes for Republicans, who control the U.S. House, to agree on a speaker.