The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 passed the Senate on a strong bipartisan 86-11 vote Thursday. In his floor speech earlier this week, Kansas Senator Pat Roberts praised the Senate version of the 5-year farm bill.

"We must focus on program integrity, we have done that.  And common sense investments to strengthen our nutrition programs to insure the long-term health and success of those in need of assistance.  We have done that in this bill, with efficiencies, reform, and priority with regards to program integrity" Roberts said.

House and Senate negotiators will now need to compromise in a conference committee. The current law expires September 30.