The House's top agriculture Democrat today plans to offer a sobering message to dozens of farm and conservation groups that are convening on Capitol Hill this morning for a rally to promote the farm bill. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee, said yesterday that he will tell the gathered groups he does not believe the full five-year farm bill can be passed before the end of the year. What's more likely is that the bill will be extended and work will begin anew next year with the incoming Congress, he said. Go to story #1