Powerline is an independent research, consulting and hedge execution resource for farmers, ranchers, grain merchants and ethanol/food processors. We help clients offset commodity price risk, manage commodity price volatility and enhance operating margins (per acre P&Ls) through the use of customized financial tools (futures, options, swaps, OTCs). Want to learn more? Just give us a call to speak directly with one of our principals!
What is Agricultural Hedging?
Hedging by definition is the transfer of risk. For those who are connected with the commodity markets, this usually means ‘price’ risk associated with the volatility and movement up or down in the price of corn, soybean and wheat, or cattle and hogs, etc. At Powerline, we use financial or ‘paper’ tools to help customers manage that underlying risk (i.e. protect and enhance operating margins or per acre P&L results). Often, farmers do not have stored grain or marketable livestock on hand at a time when prices are high. Farmers and producers hedge using financial contracts as an alternative way to lock in prices in higher priced periods. The instruments we use lay alongside, and work in conjunction with, your current activities/marketing efforts in the physical market, providing another tool to help clients enhance bottom line results. Commercial merchants, producers, and consumers of grains/meats can reduce both their physical (market or supply) and price risk by incorporating financial derivatives. The principal risk management instruments available to participants in the ag markets are the versatile futures and options contracts.
Who Should Hedge?
Any entity’s whose margin or operating results are impacted by increasing or decreasing agricultural and grain prices and/or price volatility should consider hedging. Examples of industry sectors with agricultural price risk:
We’re about exploring and educating our customers on the availability and implementation of price risk management (hedging) tools that allow you to manage your commodity price risk and protect your profits.
We develop programs for agribusiness clients with many of the tools previously only available to large commercial operators. Let us show you how to utilize futures, options, and OTC contract structures alongside your cash grain marketing and crop revenue insurance to strengthen your bottom line!
Let Powerline Develop a Program to Support Your Agribusiness.
We’re an advocate for your ag operation. Contact Powerline for a hedging consultation today.
THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING COMMODITY INTERESTS CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. IN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO TRADE OR TO AUTHORIZE SOMEONE ELSE TO TRADE FOR YOU, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING:
IF YOU PURCHASE A COMMODITY OPTION YOU MAY SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE PREMIUM AND OF ALL TRANSACTION COSTS.
RESULTS OF STUDIES CONDUCTED IN THE PAST MAY NOT BE INDICATIVE OF CURRENT TIME PERIODS OR OF THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY INDIVIDUAL CTA.
IF YOU PURCHASE OR SELL A COMMODITY FUTURES CONTRACT OR SELL A COMMODITY OPTION YOU MAY SUSTAIN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE INITIAL MARGIN FUNDS OR SECURITY DEPOSIT AND ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT YOU DEPOSIT WITH YOUR BROKER TO ESTABLISH OR MAINTAIN YOUR POSITION. IF THE MARKET MOVES AGAINST YOUR POSITION, YOU MAY BE CALLED UPON BY YOUR BROKER TO DEPOSIT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL MARGIN FUNDS, ON SHORT NOTICE, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN YOUR POSITION. IF YOU DO NOT PROVIDE THE REQUESTED FUNDS WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME, YOUR POSITION MAY BE LIQUIDATED AT A LOSS, AND YOU WILL BE LIABLE FOR ANY RESULTING DEFICIT IN YOUR ACCOUNT.
MANAGED FUTURES MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE PROFITABLE UNDER ALL MARKET CONDITIONS AND ALSO MAY NOT NECESSARILY REDUCE VOLATILITY.
UNDER CERTAIN MARKET CONDITIONS, YOU MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO LIQUIDATE A POSITION. THIS CAN OCCUR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE MARKET MAKES A “LIMIT MOVE.”
THE PLACEMENT OF CONTINGENT ORDERS BY YOU OR YOUR TRADING ADVISOR, SUCH AS A “STOP-LOSS” OR “STOP-LIMIT” ORDER, WILL NOT NECESSARILY LIMIT YOUR LOSSES TO THE INTENDED AMOUNTS, SINCE MARKET CONDITIONS MAY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXECUTE SUCH ORDERS.
A “SPREAD” POSITION MAY NOT BE LESS RISKY THAN A SIMPLE “LONG” OR “SHORT” POSITION.
THE HIGH DEGREE OF LEVERAGE THAT IS OFTEN OBTAINABLE IN COMMODITY INTEREST TRADING CAN WORK AGAINST YOU AS WELL AS FOR YOU. THE USE OF LEVERAGE CAN LEAD TO LARGE LOSSES AS WELL AS GAINS.
IN SOME CASES, MANAGED COMMODITY ACCOUNTS ARE SUBJECT TO SUBSTANTIAL CHARGES FOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISORY FEES. IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THOSE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THESE CHARGES TO MAKE SUBSTANTIAL TRADING PROFITS TO AVOID DEPLETION OR EXHAUSTION OF THEIR ASSETS. THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT CONTAINS A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCIPAL RISK FACTORS AND EACH FEE TO BE CHARGED TO YOUR ACCOUNT BY THE COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR (“CTA”).
THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION (“CFTC”) REQUIRE THAT PROSPECTIVE CUSTOMERS OF A CTA RECEIVE A DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT WHEN THEY ARE SOLICITED TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WHEREBY THE CTA WILL DIRECT OR GUIDE THE CLIENT’S COMMODITY INTEREST TRADING AND THAT CERTAIN RISK FACTORS BE HIGHLIGHTED. THIS DOCUMENT IS READILY ACCESSIBLE AT THIS SITE. THIS BRIEF STATEMENT CANNOT DISCLOSE ALL OF THE RISKS AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS OF THE COMMODITY MARKETS. THEREFORE, YOU SHOULD PROCEED DIRECTLY TO THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT AND STUDY IT CAREFULLY TO DETERMINE WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS APPROPRIATE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO ACCESS THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT BY CLICKING THE LINKS PROVIDED UNDER EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE CTAS. YOU WILL NOT INCUR ANY ADDITIONAL CHARGES BY ACCESSING THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. YOU MAY ALSO REQUEST DELIVERY OF A HARD COPY OF THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT, WHICH WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED TO YOU AT NO ADDITIONAL COST. THE CFTC HAS NOT PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THESE TRADING PROGRAMS NOR ON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF ANY OF THESE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENTS.
OTHER DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE PROVIDED YOU BEFORE A COMMODITY ACCOUNT MAY BE OPENED FOR YOU. THIS MATTER IS INTENDED AS A SOLICITATION.
THIS MATERIAL MAY MENTION SERVICES WHICH RANK THE PERFORMANCE OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISORS. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE RANKINGS APPLY ONLY TO THOSE CTAs WHO SUBMIT THEIR TRADING RESULTS. THE RANKINGS IN NO WAY PURPORT TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE OF COMMODITY TRADING ADVISORS. THE MATERIAL IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT THESE RESULTS ARE OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED RESULTS OF THE COMMODITY INDUSTRY. BE ADVISED THAT AN INDIVIDUAL CANNOT INVEST IN THE INDEX ITSELF AND THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PROGRAM MAY SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFER AND BE MORE VOLATILE THAN THE INDEX.
ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURE REQUIRED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE FEES:
A COMPLETE DISCUSSION OF FEES AND CHARGES ARE REPORTED IN THE CTA’s DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT. SPECIFICALLY, ONE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT AN INTRODUCING BROKER MAY CHARGE A FRONT-END STARTUP FEE OF UP TO 6% OF THE INITIAL TRADING CONTRIBUTION. BE ADVISED THAT IBS CLEARING ADMIS MAY CHARGE A MAXIMUM OF 3% FRONT-END FEE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CHARGE IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMODITY TRADING ADVISOR AND COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE CUSTOMERS ABILITY TO ACHIEVE SIMILAR RETURNS.
