If they decide to take another stab at the bill, GOP leaders would face the central question of whether to shift the package to the right to attract more Republicans, or shift it to the left to lure more Democrats.

“There’s the penultimate question, and candidly I’m not sure” of the answer, Moore said.

Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said Friday that the future of the bill remains up in the air, but he doubted that efforts to attract more conservatives would bear fruit.

“Clearly, they need more Democratic votes, so going to the right would not be an option,” Hammill said.

Supporters of the five-year proposal are quick to note that the timing of Thursday’s vote – which came more than three months before the current farm bill expires – gives lawmakers plenty of cushion for finding a solution and avoiding a short-term fix.