The U.S. Congress left for its summer vacation Thu., Aug. 2 without passing a new farm bill at a time when much of the country's agriculture is facing an epic drought. The U.S. Senate did vote for the so-called "cybersecurity" bill derided by civil libertarians, though not by a large enough margin to overcome a filibuster. New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer voted for the bill. In April, both Columbia County-based Republican Chris Gibson and Ulster County-based Democrat Maurice Hinchey voted against the House version of the bill.