The threat of a Chinese tariff being implemented on American soybeans has some area farmers worried about the impact it could have on their family farms and future farmers.

China’s announcement of a proposed 25 percent tariff on soybeans came in response to President Donald Trump’s claim he was going to add heavy tariffs on various Chinese exports.

According to area farmer Jerry Demmer, he believes the government will get the issue resolved, but also said China has the ability to “hit us where it hurts.”

“It will take some time to whether out and to work through and I believe that it will,” Demmer said. “There is going to be some pains that come along with it and I hope that’s not on the back of American agriculture, just because of where it’s at right now.”

Demmer referenced a pair of tweets made by Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as a source of why he’s confident the issue will be resolved.

In those tweets, Perdue said he had been in contact with Trump about China’s proposed tariffs, saying “The president has assured me he won’t let our farmers bear the brunt of China’s retaliation,” and “(the president) has made it clear we will use all options to protect farmers from China’s retaliation.”

The House and Senate Agriculture chairs also released a statement urging Trump to work for a policy that supports Minnesota farmers.

“Agriculture is the backbone of Minnesota’s economy, putting food on our table, fuel in our vehicles, and providing jobs for thousands of Minnesota workers. Foreign tariffs on products like soybeans and pork could be devastating to farmers already struggling with low commodity prices, and threaten Minnesota families, jobs, exports and our economy,” the statement said. “We urge the president to continue to work for trade policies that support Minnesota farmers and strengthen agriculture in our state and throughout the country.”

Demmer said there’s going to be collateral damage somewhere down the line, and he thinks the people it might impact the most will be younger generations of farmers.

“If this is going to impact anybody, it’s going to be these young guys,” Demmer said. “We can’t have corporate America taking over our ag land. We’ve got to keep the young people on the land, and in order to do that they need to make some money.”