Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T06:01:32.699Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Analysis of the Risk Management Properties of Grazing Contracts Versus Futures and Option Contracts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 April 2015

R. Wes Harrison
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge
Barry W. Bobst
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington
Fred J. Benson
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington
Lee Meyer
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Kentucky, Lexington

Abstract

A stochastic budget simulator and generalized stochastic dominance are used to compare the risk management properties of grazing contracts to futures and option contracts. The results show that the risks of backgrounding feeder cattle are reduced significantly for pasture owners in a grazing contract. However, the risks of the cattle owner in a grazing contract are not significantly reduced. The results also show that generally risk averse pasture owners prefer grazing contracts to integrated production when traditional hedging is used to manage price risks. In addition, grazing contracts compare favorably with put option contracts for some pasture owners.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Black, F.The Pricing of Commodity Contracts.J. Finan. Econ. 3(1976):167–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bobst, W.B., Grunewald, O.C., and Davis, J.T.. “Efficient Cash and Hedged Enterprise Combinations in Feeder Calf Backgrounding Operations.” S. J. Agr. Econ. 14(December 1982):105–10.Google Scholar
Bradford, G.A., Boling, J.A., Rutledge, S.R., and Moss, T.W.. “Comparing Management Systems for Beef Cattle Backgrounding: A Multidisci-plinary Approach.” 5. J. Agr. Econ. 10(December 1978):5762.Google Scholar
Brown, M.A., and Loewer, O.J.. “Steer Grazing En-dophyte-Free Tall Fescue.” In GRAZE Beef-Forage Simulation Model: Case Studies, eds., Loewer, O.J. and Parsch, L.D., pp. 3639. Southern Coop. Series Bull. 38IB, University of Arkansas, Fayette ville, 1995.Google Scholar
Goh, S., Shih, C., Cochran, M.J., and Raskin, R.. “A Generalized Stochastic Dominance Program for the IBM PC.” S. J. Agr. Econ. 21(December 1989):175–82.Google Scholar
Grunewald, O.C.A Risk Programming Analysis of the Role of Hedging in the Kentucky Feeder Cattle Industry.” Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 1980.Google Scholar
Harrison, R.W.Risk Sharing Through Contractual Agreement: An Application to the Feeder Cattle Industry.” Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 1994.Google Scholar
Johnson, E, Spreen, T.H., and Hewitt, T.. “A Stochastic Dominance Analysis of Contract Grazing Feeder Cattle.” S. J. Agr. Econ. 19(December 1987):1119.Google Scholar
Johnson, L.A., Ferguson, K.W., and Rawls, E.L.. “Risk-Return Comparisons of Tennessee Feeder Cattle Backgrounding Systems.J. Amer. Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers 53(1989):4146.Google Scholar
Kenyon, D.Agricultural Commodity Options: A Teacher's Guide. The University of Georgia, Athens, 1984.Google Scholar
King, R.P.Operational Techniques for Applied Decision Analysis Under Uncertainty.” Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 1979.Google Scholar
Loewer, O.J., Butts, W., Coleman, S.W., Erlinger, L.L., Essig, H.W., Fontenot, J.P., Gay, N., Linnerad, A.C., Long, C., Muntifering, R., Oltjen, J., St. Louis, D.G., Stuedemann, J.A., Taul, K., and Turner, L.. “The Animal Component.” In Simulation of Forage and Beef Production in the Southern Region, eds., Watson, V.H. and Wells, C.M., Chap. IV. Southern Coop. Series Bull. 308, Mississippi State University, Starkville, January 1985a.Google Scholar
Loewer, O.J., Taul, K.L., Turner, L.W., Gay, N., and Muntifering, R.. “Modeling of Selective Grazing of Beef Animals as Influenced by the Environment.” ASAE Paper No. 85-4008, presented at annual meeting of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 1985b.Google Scholar
Meyer, J.Choice Among Distributions.J. Econ. Theory 14(1977):326–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Naylor, T.H., Balintty, J.L., Burdick, D.S., and Chu, K.. Computer Simulation Techniques. New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1966.Google Scholar
O'Bryan, S.L., Bobst, B.W., and Davis, J.T.. “Factors Affecting Efficiency of Feeder Cattle Hedging in Kentucky.” S. J. Agr. Econ. 9(July 1977):185–89.Google Scholar
Russell, J.R., and Franzmann, J.R.. “Oscillators as Decision Guides in Hedging Feeder Cattle: An Economic Evaluation.” S. J. Agr. Econ. 11(July 1979):8388.Google Scholar
Rutledge, S., Bradford, G.L., and Boling, J.A.. “Minimum Cost Feeding Systems for Backgrounding Beef Cattle in Central Kentucky.” Res. Rep. No. 26, Dept. of Agr. Econ., University of Kentucky, Lexington, 1976.Google Scholar
Seman, D.H., and Frere, M.H.. “Supplementation of Steers Grazing Tall Fescue.” In GRAZE Beef-Forage Simulation Model: Case Studies, eds., Loewer, O.J. and Parsch, L.D., pp. 4043. Southern Coop. Series Bull. 38IB, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 1995.Google Scholar
Smith, E.M., Tharel, L., Brown, M.A., Dougherty, C.T., and Limbach, K.. “A Simulation Model for Managing Perennial Grass Pastures: Model I. Structure.Agr. Systems 17(1985):155–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spreen, T.H., and Arnade, C.A.. “Use of Forecasts in Decision Making: The Case of Stocker Cattle in Florida.” S. J. Agr. Econ. 16(July 1984):145–50.Google Scholar
Turner, L.W.Steer Grazing Low-Endophyte Tall Fescue with Grain Supplement.” In GRAZE Beef-Forage Simulation Model: Case Studies, eds., Loewer, O.J. and Parsch, L.D., pp. 4750. Southern Coop. Series Bull. 381B, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 1995.Google Scholar
University of Kentucky, Cooperative Extension Service. “Livestock Budget Estimates for Kentucky—1993.” Lexington KY, 1993.Google Scholar
Ward, R.W., and Schimkat, G.E.. “Risk Ratios and Hedging: Florida Feeder Cattle.” S. J. Agr. Econ. 11,1 (July 1979):7177.Google Scholar
Williams, J.R., Carriker, G.L., Barnaby, G.A., and Harper, J.K.. “Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance Designs for Wheat and Grain Sorghum.” Amer. J. Agr. Econ. 75,2(May 1993):435–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar