Congress passes long-awaited five-year farm bill

By Sean Lengell

Published February 4, 2014 5:00am ET

Congress passes long-awaited five-year farm bill — Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., second from left, celebrates with fellow committee members on Capitol Hill on Tuesday after Congress gave its final approval to a sweeping five-yearÃÂ farmÃÂ bill. (AP/J. Scott Applewhite) | J. Scott Applewhite

Congress gave final approval for a massive, long-term farm bill, ending a bitter two-year partisan debate over funding for agriculture subsidies, crop insurance and the food stamp program.

The measure, which the Senate passed Tuesday by a vote of 68-32, will cost about $100 billion a year over five years — a savings of about $2.3 billion a year from current spending.