Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T04:07:39.573Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Managing Price Risk in Volatile Grain Markets, Issues and Potential Solutions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2015

Andrew M. McKenzie
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Eugene L. Kunda
Affiliation:
Office for Futures and Options Research, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL

Abstract

During 2008 extreme price volatility in grain markets led to country elevators incurring unprecedentedly large margin calls on their futures hedges. As a result elevators' traditional liquidity sources and lines of credit were stretched to breaking point. This article explores the potential liquidity benefits of making available an Over-the-Counter Margin Credit Swap contract to grain hedgers. The swap would enable hedgers to draw upon sources of capital outside the farm credit system to provide liquidity needed to make margin calls. Simulation results clearly show that a Margin Credit Swap contract would provide significant liquidity benefits to hedgers during volatile periods.

Type
Invited Paper Sessions
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2009

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

Jorion, P. The New Benchmark for Controlling Derivatives Risk, Value at Risk. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1997.Google Scholar
McKenzie, A.M., and Holt, M.T.Market Efficiency in Agricultural Futures Markets.” Applied Economics 34(2002): 1519–32.Google Scholar
McKenzie, A.M., Jiang, B., Djunaidi, H. Hoffman, L.A., and Wailes, E.J.Unbiasedness and Market Efficiency Tests of the U.S. Rice Futures Market.” Review of Agricultural Economics 24(2002:474–93.Google Scholar