Hoping to win back rural voters this year, the leading Democratic presidential candidates are providing detailed proposals to shore up farm income ranging all the way from boosting commodity program rates to imposing New Deal-style supply controls.

China’s commitments to dramatically increase its purchases of U.S. commodities have raised new questions for farmers as they face decisions about which farm bill program to enroll in and pencil out their finances and risk management for the year.

Outside of exchanges on trade and climate change, farm issues largely played a minor role in the CNN-Des Moines Register debate, held on Tuesday at Drake University in Iowa’s capital city. 

Trade remains the top concern for American agriculture heading into 2020, with looming uncertainty about whether the Chinese will make promised increases in commodity purchases, and whether President Donald Trump will provide another round of trade assistance to U.S. producers.