The Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee believes we could see a farm spending package deal in December.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan expressed her belief that the deal could happen during an event Tuesday hosted by the Bipartisan Policy Center. Reuters reports that Stabenow called the delay a matter of crafting a “practical” bill that both sides could agree on. The prior farm bill expires on September 30.

Stabenow noted, however, that the looming possibility of a government shutdown casts a shadow on any real timeline for the farm deal, the largest farm spending package in the country which is passed every five years to promote farming and land usage protections nationwide.

Passage of the farm bill is often delayed due to negotiations over nutrition programs and other spending. This year’s bill is expected to cost more than $1.5 trillion over 10 years.