effect. they do it, because if they don't do it, the farm legislation lapses and we revert to farm laws between 1938 and '39. the house has not even voted on its version. congress doing nothing about even the stuff everyone is paying attention to, not to mention being famously not in session, it seems highly unlikely the house is going to get it done in time. so what? here's what, in one example. if there is no new farm bill six days from now, the government will have to abide by the provisions of a 19 49d law regarding milk. that would require them to buy milk from dairy farmers at hugely inflated prices. if that law takes effect again in 2013, the government will be forced to pay double what it currently pays for milk. for a short time it will be awesome for dairy farmers, they can sell as much milk as they can to make a ton of money.