Newsletter | Past Issues

October, 2004

In This Issue:

Farm Custom Rates in the Midwest

From Bookkeeper to Chief Financial Officer workshops to be held this fall

Begin Now to Think Abour Year's End

Ohio Income Tax Schools Registration Information

A Comprehensive Computerized Farm Financial Planning & Analysis System

Livestock Price Risk Protection Insurance Policies: Overviews & Comparison to Using Put Options

Farm Custom Rates in the Midwest

Barry Ward,OSU Extension Educator, Champaign County

Each year, many Ohio farmers hire custom machine work in their farm business or perform custom machine work for others. Establishing a fair and equitable price for these services is frequently challenging. Custom rate survey results compiled and summarized by University Extension Economists help farm managers by serving as a guideline for determining custom rates in their area. Farm managers and custom operators should carefully consider their own variable and fixed costs and before deciding on a custom farm machine rate. The following three websites are summaries complies by Extension Economists in Ohio , Indiana , and Iowa respectively.

Farm Custom Rates Paid in Ohio , 2002

http://www-agecon.ag.ohio-state.edu/people/moore.301/customrate-02.pdf

Indiana Custom Rates 2004

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/EC/EC-130-W.pdf

2004 Iowa Farm Custom rate Survey

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/FM1698.pdf

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From Bookkeeper to Chief Financial Officer workshops to be held this fall in Northeast Ohio
David Marrison, Extension Educator, Ashtabula County

Dianne Shoemaker, Extension Specialist, Dairy.  OSU Extension Center at Wooster

Today's farm bookkeeper is really not “just the bookkeeper” anymore.  This person plays a critically important role in the farm business.  Yes, paying bills on time, doing payroll and balancing the checkbook are all important.  They are also time consuming!  But, within those numbers you work with is a goldmine of information critical to planning, decision making and evaluation of alternatives and opportunities for your business. 
 
In short, the role of a farm's bookkeeper has developed into that of a Chief Financial Officer.  The Chief Financial Officer's grasp of the financial health of a farm business, and the information they can provide to the rest of the management team provides the foundation for good decision making.
 
OSU Extension is pleased to announce that a three-day workshop series designed specifically for your operation's chief financial officer will be held in six locations throughout northeast Ohio this fall.  The location and dates for this program are:
 
Meeting Location                                Town                                   Dates
Des Dutch Essenhaus 1-3:30 pm       Shreve, Ohio                      Nov. 15

                                                                                                             Dec 6 &13
Jim's Place 7-9:30 pm                          New Philadelphia, OH      Nov. 15,

                                                                                                             Dec 6 &13
Liz Burkholder's 1-3:30 pm                   Shiloh, Ohio                       Nov 16,

                                                                                                             Dec 7 & 14
Stark County Extension 7-9:30 pm      Massillon, Ohio                 Nov 16,

                                                                                                            Dec 7 & 14
First United Methodist 1-3:30 pm        Salem, Ohio                      Nov 17,

                                                                                                            Dec 8 & 15
Ashtabula Co. Extension 7-9:30pm     Jefferson, Ohio                 Nov 17,

                                                                                                            Dec 8 & 15
 
Whether you are new to the bookkeeper/CFO role or have years of experience, the “From Bookkeeper to CFO” workshops are for you IF you want to grow in that role.  The three sessions include homework assignments.  If you complete your homework assignments, you will have several completed financial statements by mid-December. 
 
Discussions about income tax planning for 2004, featured in the second session, will enable participants to evaluate their farm's projected income tax liabilities while there is still time to take appropriate actions.  One-on-one assistance will be available both before and after the sessions.
 
Register by November 5th to get the best rate.  A complete registration flyer can be found at the Ohio Ag Manager web site.

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Begin Now to Think About Year's End

David Miller, Farm Management Specialist, OSU Extension

Producers are now focused on harvesting activities as the calendar changes from September to October. But as the third quarter of the year ends, managers should also begin thinking about the financial and tax decisions that will need to be made by December 31, 2004 .

To begin financial planning for the year's end it is essential the 2004 farm records are up to date. The end of September is an excellent time to do a nine month summary of receipts and expenses and make comparisons to a 2004 budget or to similar numbers for 2003 and 2002. While a lot can happen in the final three months of the year the manager needs to begin estimating income and expenses for the remainder of the year utilizing a 2004 budget or income and expenses from 2002 and 2003 for October, November and December. Of course any numbers used from a budget or previous years will need to be adjusted for prices and quantities to reflect current business conditions.

For tax planning purposes, it is also important to get an estimate of the 2004 depreciation for those assets placed in service prior to 2004. If an accountant keeps the depreciation records ask for a projection of the 2004 depreciation before any additions or deletions are made for 2004. If the depreciation schedule is calculated using a computer program this is a simple request. If the depreciation records are done manually, this simply means bringing those records up to date before the end of the year. With this schedule in hand, the manager will have an estimate of the “base” depreciation for 2004 and can then make better decisions about managing the depreciation of assets purchased during 2004.

The end of September is also a good time to get answers to any record keeping questions that may have come up throughout the year. Or to add any additional information to the records that will help at year's end such as how much of the seed, fertilizer and chemicals paid for in the spring went onto share rent landlords' fields or what were the quantities of livestock feed purchased throughout the year and do those quantities need to be allocated to the different enterprises or what was the break down of principal and interest on the debt payments made throughout the year.

After the manager has a handle on where the business is headed financially for the year consideration can then be given to plans for the last three months of 2004 to affect the profitability of the business such as marketing more or less grain and livestock, paying on any past due accounts, prepaying next year's operating expenses, making additional debt payments, purchasing additional capital assets or possibly setting aside funds for the estimated 2004 income tax liability.

Producers think about the profitability of their businesses throughout the year. However, the record keeping may fall behind during busy times or not all the needed information is entered into the record system properly. The final quarter of the business year is an excellent time to get the farm records current so the manager can begin planning possible year-end strategies.

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Ohio Income Tax Schools Registration Information

Donald J. Breece, Farm Management Specialist, OSU Extension

The Ohio Income Tax Schools are designed for individuals who have had experience preparing and filing federal and state tax returns for individuals and small businesses, to include farms.  Participants in the two day schools receive a 700 page workbook and a searchable CD of past years workbooks.  Also, students receive a RIA Federal Tax Handbook.  Continuing Education Unit credits are available for accountants, attorneys, enrolled agents and financial planners.  A second school is also available for those with specific Agriculture interest called the Agriculture Issues Workshop.  Dates, locations and registration information is available at:  http://aede.osu.edu/programs/TaxSchool/ .

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A Comprehensive Computerized Farm Financial Planning & Analysis System

Donald J. Breece, Farm Management Specialist, OSU Extension

FINPACK is a comprehensive financial planning and analysis system designed to help farmers understand their financial situation and make informed decisions.  It is not a record keeping system.  Instead, FINPACK makes it possible to use existing records in business analysis, cash flow planning and to explore long range alternatives.  Agricultural professionals may also use FINPACK to evaluate a clients financial situation, recommend management strategies, and make informed loan decisions.  Extension agents, lenders, adult educators and other professional have used it with more than 100,000 farms over the past ten years.  In Ohio , farmers may contact their county Extension office to locate an Extension Educator to run a FINPACK analysis.  Also, FBPA instructors have the FINPACK program.  The Center for Farm Financial Management, University of Minnesota developed and support the program.  Their web site is www.cffm.umn.edu . I also serve as State Leader for FINPACK and may be reached for more information at:  breece.2@osu.edu.

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Livestock Risk Protection Insurance Policies: Overview and Comparison to Using Put Options
Dr. Brian Roe, Associate Professor, Department of AED Economics & Livestock Marketing Specialist

Volatile prices over the past two years have left many livestock producers wondering how to best manage the downside price risk they face. As of October 1, 2004 , USDA has introduced a new price risk management tool available to hog producers, feedlot operators, back grounders, and cow-calf operators: a livestock revenue insurance policy called Livestock Risk Protection (LRP). Originally piloted in Iowa over the past couple of years, the program operates on a simple premise: you insure against downward movement in hog or cattle prices that might occur after you have committed to growing them. For those familiar with futures and options lingo, this is a lot like a put option. While the general concept behind LRP is similar to put options, operational details are different. The purpose of this article is to outline the general concepts of LRP, highlight differences between LRP and options, and provide an example that compares LRP to put options.

Livestock Risk Protection

Livestock Risk Protection policies are sold by licensed insurance agents to livestock owners to cover downward price movements for livestock that will be sold by the owner when the growing phase is complete. A contract, which covers the total expected weight of the finished livestock (live weight for cattle and lean weight for hogs), can be purchased any time after livestock are obtained. There are paperwork requirements when first signing up, e.g., establishing that you are actually an owner of the livestock and documenting percent of livestock you own. Premiums, which include all commissions, are paid in full up front. Also, if you take out an insurance policy, you are not allowed to take offsetting positions in the futures market.

The producer has several options when it comes to buying the insurance contract, both with respect to percent of market price insured and with respect to the length of the contract. With regard to length of time, fed cattle and feeder cattle policies can last 13, 17, 21, 26, 30, 34, 39, 43, 47 or 52 weeks, while hog policies can last 13, 17, 21, or 26 weeks. There should be enough flexibility with these lengths to have the insurance policy expire within 30 days of actual sales date.

With regard to amount of coverage, producers can choose coverage prices that typically range from 70% to 95% of the prevailing market price on the day the insurance policy is written. That is, if the prevailing market price on the last day of the insurance policy falls below coverage price established when the policy was written, then the livestock owner gets an indemnity payment that makes up the difference between the prevailing market price and the coverage price. Suppose the prevailing market price on the day the insurance policy was written was $100 and the producer chose a coverage price of $90. If on the last day of the insurance contract the prevailing market price was $75, the owner receives an indemnity payment of $15 ($90 coverage price - $75 prevailing market price).

The prevailing price used for fed cattle is the 5-area weighted weekly weighted average 35 to 65 % choice steer price (live weight). For feeder cattle and hog policies, the prevailing price used is the CME cash price index for feeder cattle and lean hogs, which are used by the CME to settle unclosed futures positions at the time of expiration (live cattle still allows delivery of cattle, while feeder cattle and lean hogs switched to cash settlement several years ago). Hence, local basis for livestock insurance contracts may be a little different than most producers are used to seeing. Because the insurance contracts rely upon CME data, all policies are written after the CME closes in the early afternoon and before it reopens the following workday.

Put Options

Put options are sold by licensed commodity brokers to livestock owners or anyone with speculative interest in livestock markets. Put options give the owner the right to sell a futures contract with a specified maturity date for a given price (known as the strike price). Because put options revolve around futures contracts, the amount of livestock product covered by a single option is fixed to 40,000 pounds of live cattle (about 31 head averaging 1300 pounds), 50,000 pounds of feeder cattle (about 62 800-pounders) and 40,000 pounds of lean hog (about 204 265-pounders). A contract can be purchased at any time regardless of when cattle are placed on feed. There are paperwork requirements as well, e.g., to establish a brokerage account. Premiums and a commission must be paid up front and, if one needs to exercise the option (or resell it for a profit), another commission is incurred at that time.

Put options also allow flexibility when it comes to the percent of market price ‘insured' and with respect to the length of the contract. Options are written on all futures contracts traded on the CME starting approximately 6 months prior to expiration, which should also allow most cash sales to occur within about 30 days of option expiration dates.

With regard to amount of coverage (or, in options parlance, the strike price), producers can choose put options from an even wider range, including at prices at or above the prevailing futures price. Unlike the insurance policies, put options can be exercised at any point, not just on one agreed upon date. Also, the relevant local basis is the difference between local cash price and CME futures price.

 LRP and Put Options – Pros and Cons

One advantage of options is that they provide more flexibility with regard to the timing of purchase and sale, i.e., the dates during which coverage begins and ends. Insurance contracts are quite inflexible, particularly with regard to the date which indemnities are determined. In a sense, a put option allows the producer to pick the day when the indemnity will be determined. Such freedom can be a mixed blessing, however, and make the put option a more speculative instrument than a hedging instrument.

Another advantage of put options is that, in the event of an adverse price movement, the proceeds of selling the put are paid immediately. For insurance, indemnities are paid merely within 60 days of filing the necessary paperwork. So, in reality, in low price scenarios, those covered by insurance may have to wait up to two months longer to receive their benefits than would put option holders.

One clear advantage of the insurance policy is that it covers exactly the number of animals you own, ranging from a single animal up to 1,000 head of feeder cattle, 2,000 head of fed cattle or 10,000 head of hogs. Put options have fixed contract sizes, and your particular marketing level may fall between common contract sizes. For example, if you plan to market 300 hogs and want to use put options, you can either cover about 200 hogs with one put option contract and leave 100 unprotected or you can cover 400 hogs with two put options and, in a sense, be speculating about the performance of the lean hog futures price with the extra 100 hogs' worth of option contract you own. However, if you are a big operator, you may exceed LRP's coverage levels, leaving put options to be the method that allows for adequate coverage.

Another advantage of the insurance contract with regard to feeder cattle is that separate contracts exist by the sex (heifers and steers), weight (less and more than 600 pounds), and breed (Brahma, Holstein and other breeds) of the animal. Put options, which work off of the CME feeder cattle contract, are based upon beef breeds weighing 700 to 850 pounds.

A practical advantage of the insurance policy versus put option is that all expenses are incurred up front; recall that options may have commissions that occur near the time livestock are sold in low-price situations. Furthermore, there is no ambiguity concerning whether these expenses are tax deductible (some more entangled options positions might be construed as speculating by adamant IRS agents and, hence, not deductible).

Finally, the federal government subsidizes 13% of cost of the insurance premiums, which make insurance quite cost competitive with options with respect to providing similar downside risk protection.

An Example of LRP and Put Options

To illustrate the bottom line differences between I will give an example comparing the two forms of price protection. I am using an example of 3 different size operators who put both forms of price protection into position on October 4, 2004 . All operators have cattle with a planned finishing weight of 1300 and a planned sale date of January 31, 2004 . Operator 1 has 15 head, Operator 2 has 30 head and Operator 3 has 45 head; recall, it takes about 30 head at that weight to fill a single options contract.

The LRP rates and costs are taken from USDA's website, while option premiums are the settlement prices posted on the CME website at close of business for October 4, 2004 . The February live cattle futures contract closed that day at $89.62/cwt. The put option strategy involves buying a single put option with a strike price of $84/cwt. (roughly a 94% coverage rate); the premium was $1.80/cwt, plus the operator incurs a $75 commission paid to the broker to transact the deal.

The LRP strategy involves buying a policy to cover exactly the number of cattle each farmer has. The coverage price was $83.07/cwt (roughly a 93% coverage rate) and the insurance premium was $1.86 after factoring in the 13% subsidy from USDA.

Consider three possible price scenarios: good ($92), bad ($82), and very bad ($75). These prices represent the price of the 5-area weighted cattle price for 35 to 65% choice steers reported on January 31 of 2005. (For simplicity, we will assume that the local cash price will be identical to both the CME futures price, used to settle options, and the 5-area cattle price, used to settle the insurance contract indemnity rate). Also, consider the three different sizes of operator. The effective cash sales price, assuming local basis is zero, is listed for each scenario in Table 1. These are the prices per cwt. obtained after factoring in all expenses associated with both the option strategy and LRP, including all commissions and interest lost from cash tied up in executing the strategy.

Table 1. Effective Cash Price with Local Basis of $0 under Put Option and LRP Strategies.

There are two scenarios in which the LRP is yields a noticeably larger effective price. The first is for the 15-head operator when the futures price is good ($92). Under this Options Strategy, this operator was forced to purchase coverage for 30 head when only 15 head were on hand, essentially leaving a speculative position in the put options market for the other 15 head covered by the put. When the futures market did well, the value of the put was zero, meaning the operator essentially had speculative – money was spent on a put for cattle the operator never owned and the put never gained any value. Of course, if the futures market plunges to $75, that value of the put option skyrockets, handing the 15-head operator a speculative gain, which appears as a much larger effective price for the Option Strategy than the LRP Strategy.

The second scenario in which the LRP Strategy outperforms the Option Strategy is for the 45-head operator when the futures market only reaches $75. Here, again, the operator has 15 head of cattle that are essentially not hedged. Hence, when the futures market does poorly, it is not surprising that the effective price is lower because 1/3 of the cattle were not protected from downside risk protection. However, when the market is strong ($92), those put options have no value and the fact that the 45-head operator did not protect 15 head is now a benefit. In this case, the Option Strategy yields a higher effective price.

For the 30-head operator, both strategies fully cover all animals marketed. In this case the two strategies yield essentially the same prices. The Option Strategy does slightly better in the ‘bad' and ‘very bad' price scenario, while the LRP does better in the ‘good' price scenario. These modest differences are driven by the slightly different coverage levels available on the day the two contracts were initiated, i.e., the Option Strategy protected for prices below $84 while the LRP policy protected for prices below $83.07.

A key outcome to notice is that, as you scan down a column of effective LRP prices, the price is not affected by the size of the operation. This stems from the fact that LRP covers exactly the number of animals the operator has while the options strategy covers a fixed number of cattle regardless of the operator's true size. This means that LRP has a greater ability to truly hedge the price position while the Option Strategy only provides an exact hedge for operators with exactly the correct number of head.

Summary

The Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance Policy offers a flexible method for achieving downside price risk protection. The program provides greater ability to place a true hedge for any size producer than do strategies relying on options because options are sold to cover a fixed amount of livestock output, while the insurance policies are written to cover exactly the amount of livestock held by the operator. Some operators not familiar with futures and options markets may also find it easier buy an insurance policy than to buy put options.

Options programs do offer greater flexibility with regard to the time when downside price protection is removed, allowing astute operators familiar with futures markets to (potentially) close out options positions for greater return. Also, there exist annual limits to the number of fed cattle (4,000), feeder cattle (2,000) and hogs (32,000) covered by LRP. Therefore, some large operations may not be able to access complete coverage via LRP.

One final point is that neither program can guarantee that the operator will cover costs of production because both programs are tied to the futures market, which may simply be trading in a range below costs of production.

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Readers can subscribe electronically to this newsletter by sending an e-mail message to: ohioagmanager-on@ag.osu.edu. A successful subscription message will receive by an automatic reply from the listserv. Contact your local Ohio State University Extension Office or e-mail dmarrison@ag.osu.edu if you have problems subscribing.

Editors: Chris Bruynis, Bill Hudson & David Marrison

Information presented above and where trade names are used, they are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.

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