71.   Gingrich said he hopes Congress can also complete work on a new farm bill before lawmakers recess for Easter.

72.   Gramm dismissed criticism from Dole and Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, who faulted him for missing a Senate vote on the farm bill Tuesday.

73.   Haw said he had expected to have the feedlots sold by now, but language in a proposed federal farm bill has created some uncertainty among potential buyers.

74.   He inserted the provision almost three weeks ago, on the last day of Senate debate on the farm bill.

75.   He said he preferred to conceal it within other legislation, such as a farm bill or the agriculture spending bill Congress must still approve this year.

76.   His Senate counterpart may have to do something similar, as the Senate Agriculture Committee today declined to approve a similar new farm bill.

77.   House and Senate lawmakers crafting a new farm bill today reached a compromise on the Conservation Reserve Program, which pays farmers to idle land for conservation purposes.

78.   House and Senate negotiators are under considerable pressure on this first day of spring to get a farm bill passed and signed by President Bill Clinton.

79.   House panels begin voting in sections of a new five-year farm bill next month.