WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a five-year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill that cuts farm subsidies and land conservation spending by about $2 billion a year. But the measure largely protects sugar growers and some 46 million food stamp beneficiaries.

The 64-35 vote for passage defied the political odds. Many predicted that legislation this expensive and complicated would have little chance in an election year.

The bill eliminates direct payments to farmers regardless of whether they plant crops. That program, which costs about $5 billion a year, has lost support at a time of big federal deficits.

The legislation now goes to the GOP-led House, which is likely to seek deeper cuts in food stamps.

In a statement, Missouri Republican Roy Blunt said he is pleased the Senate was able to work together to pass the legislation that takes steps to reduce the deficit and save taxpayers more than $23 billion.

“Not only does the bill help provide certainty for agriculture – which is the number one industry in Missouri and supports nearly 16 million jobs nationwide – but it impacts all Americans by strengthening and improving the ways we support everything from trade promotion and nutrition, to commodity support, research and rural development.”

“I hope that we can build on this bipartisan momentum and continue working together to help create jobs and get our economy back on track.”

Missouri Democrat Claire McCaskill also supported the bill, and she called on members of the U.S. House of Representatives to follow suit.

Calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today successfully helped pass a sweeping Farm Bill in the Senate that supports agriculture jobs, strengthens resources for family farms and ranches, and reduces the national deficit by more than $23 billion.

“This is the kind of work Missourians expect of their leaders—a strongly bipartisan bill that supports job-growth, cuts the deficit, and protects critical resources for our families and farms and ranches across rural America,” said McCaskill.

“This legislation touches every American family and business, and was made possible through hard work and compromise—values we need to see more of around here. Now, it’s up to the U.S. House to follow our lead.”