It's similar to the situation in Australia, where our relatively strong agriculture this week, was highlighted by economists as as a key factor, in preventing the nation sliding more deeply into recession and as a potential key economic driving force in speeding recovery.

As US farmers head into the planting season, US Department of Agriculture chief economist, Joe Glauber, says the price outlook and the input costs outlook are worse than they were last year.

However, he says even with those circumstances, the ag sector is holding up better than most other sectors.

"Input costs actually have come down to about levels where they were last year, but they've been high for a long time," Glauber said.

"So presumably there are a number of farmers who bought at higher prices back in the fall and then earlier this year.

"That said, for many crop producers they're coming off a record year in terms of high prices, so, as a sector, agriculture is coming into this weaker price environment in far better shape than are many other sectors in the economy."

In terms of credit for farmers, although banks may have tighter collateral requirements for loans, Glauber says credit is available, which can't be said for many other sectors.