Senate leaders are zeroing in on a deal to limit amendments to the 2007 farm bill, meaning the measure could be back on the floor as early as next week, aides said Monday.

Democrats would be able to offer at least five amendments to the legislation, and Republicans would be given time for 10 amendments, aides said. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., may allow consideration of a few non-germane proposals dealing with the estate tax and the alternative minimum tax, aides added.

Prior to the Thanksgiving recess, Reid balked when Republicans insisted on a chance to offer the tax amendments and other non-germane proposals, including ones dealing with immigration. But his effort to invoke cloture, thus limiting debate and barring non-germane amendments, fell short Nov. 16 by 55-42. Only four Republicans crossed party lines to support the cloture effort — not enough to produce the 60 votes needed.

If Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., succeed in reaching an agreement on amendments, the Senate could complete work on the bill in as little as two days, one aide said.

Nevertheless, chances are bleak that House-Senate negotiators could reconcile the two chambers’ very different versions by year’s end, let alone get the measure cleared for President Bush in the short pre-Christmas session.

Bush has threatened to veto both versions of the farm bill, which further complicates the legislative effort.

Nevertheless, farm-state lawmakers have been touting the bill to their rural constituents over the Thanksgiving recess, and farmers are telling lawmakers to stop thinking about an extension of current law and to pass a new farm bill as quickly as possible.