WASHINGTON - The Senate on Wednesday effectively killed action this year on a bill opposed by President Bush to expand federal farm subsidies just before next years congressional elections. Democrats said they will try again in January.

For the third time in the past three weeks, Democrats were unable to muster the 60 votes needed to cut off debate and bring the legislation to a final vote.

We have to move on, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said before the 54-43 roll call. He said he would bring the bill back to the Senate floor when lawmakers return from their holiday recess in late January.

The farm-bill deadlock was a victory for the Bush administration, which had opposed the measure and urged Congress to delay the legislation until next year. It was a defeat for the Senate Agriculture Committee chairman, Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin, who is up for re-election in 2002.

Harkin accused Republicans of stalling and said the stalemate puts at risk $73.5 billion set aside for farmers in a congressional budget agreement this year. This is really a sad day and not a bright Christmas next week for farmers, ranchers and people who live in rural America. What weve said to them is you dont count, he said.

Republicans denied the stalling charge. Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said farm legislation would be a top priority of the Senate in January. We can complete action in due time, he said.

On Tuesday, the Senate rejected an alternative Republican farm bill, 55-40.

All the bills would increase spending on farm programs by nearly 80 percent over the next 10 years and reauthorize farm and nutrition programs through 2006.

The Senate Democratic bill, however, would raise crop subsidies and create a new payment program tied to changes in commodity prices. The GOP bill rejected on Tuesday didnt increase subsidy rates but offered farmers more money in fixed annual payments to go with matching deposits for IRA-style savings accounts.

Democrats said the GOP measure, supported by the Bush administration, provided an inadequate safety net for producers and too little money for conservation.

GOP Sens. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, Susan Collins of Maine, Gordon Smith of Oregon, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania voted with Democrats to defeat the Republican bill.

Defeat of the Republican alternative sends a pretty clear signal of where the votes are and provides momentum to the Democratic legislation, said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

Even if the Senate were to approve a farm bill this week, Harkin admitted theres probably no time for the House and Senate to negotiate a final version of the legislation before Christmas.

Farm groups say Congress needs to finish work on a bill quickly, because they fear lawmakers will be unwilling to spend as much on agriculture programs after new budget forecasts early next year.