This week, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has continued trying to allay concerns from farmers and ranchers that they’ll be harmed by the ongoing trade dispute with China.

Earlier in the week, he penned an op-ed in USA Today and also made an appearance on CNBC’s "Squawk Box" to reassure that President Donald Trump will protect American farmers from China’s trade retaliation.

In his op-ed, Perdue explained how, in 2011, a group of Chinese nationals dug up genetically engineered seeds from an Iowa corn field and planned to steal and send them back to China so the seeds could be reverse engineered. “Those seeds, the result of years of research and millions of dollars of American investment, now stand as one of countless pieces of evidence in the case against China for intellectual property theft and unfair trade practices.”

Recognizing that farmers rely on exports, Perdue said, “Farmers know that that 20 cents of every dollar of their income relies on trade, which is why they are watching the situation with China closely. The simple truth is that when trading partners break the rules, there must be consequences.”

On "Squawk Box," he said: “There is legitimate anxiety when you see prices depressing, but farmers are resilient; they understand China has not been playing fair. The President has told me to tell [farmers] that he's not going to allow them to bear the brunt of these trade disruptions and to make a plan for mitigation unless we are unable resolve the trade issue.”

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“There is no denying that the disruption in trade relations with China is unsettling to many in agriculture, but if the President succeeds in changing China’s behavior, America’s farmers will reap the benefits,” Perdue said in his op-ed.

As retaliatory threats become reality, farmers are beginning to question the President’s commitment to rural America and the role they played in getting Trump to the White House. Perdue tried to allay those concerns as well, saying, “Farmers should know this: They have stood with President Trump and his policies, and we will make good on our promise to stand with them as well. If China does not soon mend its ways, we will quickly begin fulfilling our promise to support producers who have become casualties of these disputes.”

Perdue said the President is a tough negotiator, he’s confident that American agriculture will flourish because of trade relationships that are smarter, stronger and better than before. “China might underestimate the strength and resolve of American farmers, but the President does not, and he will not allow our agricultural producers to suffer because of China’s continued bad actions,” he added.

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While speaking at the United Fresh trade show in Chicago, Ill., earlier this week, Perdue said he would like to have the mitigation plan crafted before Labor Day. Agricultural groups have consistently said they would prefer trade instead of tariffs.