Throughout most of my career I have complained about and criticized Washington-based reporters for emphasizing process when reporting on important pieces of legislation. My argument was that news articles should put more emphasis on what a piece of legislation would do instead of that process of debate.

So I come out here this week and I find myself writing a lot about process. It popped into my head writing a piece Wednesday about the fact that senators were stuck in this procedural gridlock trying to get to the farm bill.

It took a veteran Washington agriculture reporter, Chuck Abbott of Reuters, to show me Wednesday afternoon that there are still parts of this legislation that we learn about by the day and can provide a more valuable story to readers. Chuck pointed out to me that the new Average Crop Revenue program would not pay farmers the counter-cyclical portion on their payment until after Oct. 1 of the crop year. You harvest this crop and go effectively a full year until you get the payment.

"ACR payments would be made "beginning Oct. 1 after the end of the applicable marketing year," 12 months after harvest, according to an Agriculture Committee explanation of ACR. Traditional supports allow "advance" payments during the marketing year," Abbott wrote.

That was a pretty valuable piece of information to point out to readers.

Needless to say, I was disappointed I had gotten caught up in the process and lost in the details. I hope I can better re-establish what this legislation may mean to producers.

In case you are wondering when this legislation will get through the Senate, think December. Right now, heading into Thursday, the Senate hasn't debated a single amendment. It seems hard to fathom that senators will move through the long list of amendments next week. The go on a two-week break after Nov. 16. I'm thinking they will be back on the floor after they return from their Thanksgiving break to wrap up their floor debate.

Farm Bill Pool

I'd like to know when people think the farm bill will be done. Declare what day they think this bill will be signed. I have to set some ground rules, so I'm going to say you have to submit your pick to me by Thanksgiving Day. Veto dates don't count, just a signed law date will do. Who's going to cowboy up and stake out a day?

I'm picking April 5 because I said this bill would not be done before the NCAA basketball March Madness tournament begins and April 5 is the first day of the Final Four.

All I want is an e-mail or comment posted on the blog offering your proposed date. I'll scrounge around some of our DTN-logo gratuity items and the winner will end up decked out like a DTN billboard.

On the Monday after Thanksgiving, I'll post the list of everyone willing to offer their date to keep us all honest.

Chris.clayton@dtn.com