HGCA gives understanding to risk mangement - 8th Dec 2008
Jack Watts, Economist HGCA gave the Somerset Pig Club and insight into Prospects for 2008/09 and beyond, Managing uncertainty and Developing a strategy to buy your pig feed.
Volatility dominates the global wheat market, Ethonol is key for US maize supply and demand, GM issues continue to fuel uncertainty in the soyameal markets, we are still recovering from a 2007 deficit in Soyabean supply and to top it off we have a credit crunch!
Global
feed markets are complex, interrelated and not easy to predict, however Jack
Watts gave clear messages on the fundamentals but was sure not to try and get
anyone to trick him into a price prediction!
Jack
gave Somerset Pig Club an excellent and factual presentation. The group were
already very informed about many of the global issues that had faced world
markets and the effect that CAP reform made on EU stocks but it is the future
that counts and what, if any, security can be bought into purchasing feeds. This
security or insurance of price can be gained through a CALL Option, although it
is impossible to say whether buying now or next month will save you £10/tonne,
Jack explained that Options can guarantee your price going forward so you have
that as a fact that you can build into your COP and business plan, something you
can control.