Congressional negotiators will announce a final farm bill conference agreement, 12:30 p.m. CDT today

This media advisory just came our way--the interested public can tune in via the links below:

Congressional negotiators will announce a final farm bill conference agreement  May 8, 2008 at 1:30 PM EDT [12:30 CDT] in 1300 Longworth House Office Building.  The bipartisan, bicameral group will discuss the details of the final bill, which makes investments in conservation, energy, nutrition and rural development while continuing and strengthening farm income protection.

The event will also be webcast on the House and Senate Agriculture Committee Websites at: http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html or http://agriculture.senate.gov/.

WHO:  Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman, Senate Agriculture Committee
Collin Peterson (D-MN), Chairman, House Agriculture Committee
Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Ranking Member, House Agriculture Committee
Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), Chairman, Senate Budget Committee
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman, Senate Finance Committee
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee
Congressman Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), Member, House Agriculture and House Ways and Means Committees

WHAT: Agriculture leaders to announce farm bill conference report
1:30 PM [12:30 PM CDT]

WHERE: Longworth House Office Building
Room 1300
Washington, D.C

In his just concluded weekly press call, Congressman Walz expressed optimism that the bill would become law. Although President bush has threatened to veto the legislation, Walz noted that Senator Coleman would vote to override a veto and that ranking House ag member Bob Goodlatte was working to persuade House Republicans to do so if necessary as well.