Price risk protection tools for this uncertain market. Market events and reactionary behaviour warrants risk management strategies, states John Michael Riley, Extension Agricultural Economist, Mississippi State University.
Management tools
So, based on these market events and the reaction to it in cattle, a review of price risk management alternatives is warranted. Of course, managing risks does not mean eliminating all risks. The most common methods of managing price risks are:
Futures market hedge
Option on futures
Forward contract
Livestock risk protection insurance
Futures Markets
The first two of these involve using products offered through futures market exchanges. In agriculture, the CME Group’s Chicago Mercantile Exchange or Chicago Board of Trade are the most likely establishments. Hedging with futures provides a known contract price with the risk trade-off coming in the form of an unknown final basis value (where basis is the actual cash price minus the final futures price). Hedging with futures does carry certain cash flow, or liquidity, issues with respect to potential margin requirements (a.k.a. margin calls).
When to hedge short?
For instance, in the current market environment where cattle prices have increased over the past few months, a short hedge where the futures contract was originally sold, the price increase has caused the futures position to incur losses. Once the losses reach an exchange determined threshold, more margin money is required.
What is an option on a future?
An option on futures hedge can be more complicated and expensive at the onset, but once the hedge is in place (in its simplest form) it does not bring with it the potential cash flow problems of a futures hedge. Options provide an assurance of a minimum or maximum price, respectively for sellers or buyers, with the added ability to obtain a more favorable price.
This flexibility carries costs, the option premium, and in a volatile market environment the premium will typically be higher relative to a more calm market. The premium is also affected by the duration of the option contract. The longer the time period of the option, the higher the premium since the market has more time to change. However, once the option is purchased, there are no margin requirements for the option buyer and therefore the potential cash flow issues are not present.
Forward contract
A forward contract is very similar to a futures contract hedge, but instead of utilizing a futures market exchange to handle all the contract details, the buyer and seller form their own personalized contract. This provides much more flexibility than a futures contract, whose location, quantity, and quality specifications are quite rigid. However, the two parties are responsible for contract fulfillment and this has the potential to require legal professionals either before or after the contract is agreed upon.
Livestock Insurance
Livestock risk protection is an insurance product available from the USDA Risk Management Agency via approved insurance providers. This product is available for both feeder cattle and fed cattle. The insurance is very similar to a put option (an option that provides a minimum price).
These insurance products carry a 13 percent subsidy and are more flexible than an option on futures given that the number of head can vary (and the cattle type can vary for the feeder cattle product). The premium is often similar to an exchange traded option premium. However, these insurance products can only be purchased in the evening through early morning hours and the cattle must be sold within a given time frame, which can limit their attractiveness.
Thanks to TheCattleSite.com for this overview!
