The issue focused on the fact that the federal government is paying $2 billion annually to help farmers and ranchers pay for their own crop insurance. But the bill also requires insurance companies to pay farmers more money than they're already getting.

"I think that the way the bill's drafted is a mistake, but the intent is not," said Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas.

Roberts' amendment, which he sponsored, would prevent the Department of Agriculture from paying more of the premiums than farmers already