WASHINGTON — Specialty crop producers got bad news Thursday as the U.S. House of Representatives voted 195-234 to reject the 2013 farm bill, raising more uncertainty about whether Congress can agree on a five-year, $940 billion bill this year.

The House leadership failed to bridge the divide as many Democrats voted against the bill because of steep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as the food stamp program, and many Republicans voted against the measure because of its cost.

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), who voted for the bill, blamed Democrats for voting against it, while others like Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) blamed the House leadership for failing to control the “extreme right wing of their party."

Specialty crop groups immediately reacted to the news.

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance said it was “deeply disappointed” that the House failed to pass the bill, noting the House failed to pass the 2012 farm bill last year.

The United Fresh Produce Association also expressed disappointment with the vote.

“We felt we had a very strong bill for specialty crops that was supported by members from both sides of the aisle,” said Robert Guenther, United Fresh’s senior vice president of public policy. “We strongly encourage the House Leadership and the House Agriculture Committee to get back together and bring back to the House floor a bill that can pass before the current extension expires at the end of September.”

Farm groups weren’t the only ones disappointed after the vote.

“I’m obviously disappointed, but the reforms in H.R.1947 — $40 billion in deficit reduction, elimination of direct payments and the first reforms to SNAP since 1996 — are so important that we must continue to pursue them,” said Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK), chair of the House Agriculture Committee. “We are assessing all of our options, but I have no doubt that we will finish our work in the near future and provide the certainty that our farmers, ranchers and rural constituents need.”

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), who chairs of the Senate Agriculture Committee and helped guide the bill to a 66-27 vote in the Senate last month, suggested the House bring the bipartisan-supported Senate bill to the floor.

“Maintaining the status quo means no reform, no deficit reduction and further uncertainty that slows growth in our agriculture industry,” the Michigan Senator said. “This is totally unacceptable.”