A cattle feeder owns a large cattle feedlot operation. A major feedlot expense for this cattle feeding enterprise is buying corn from the local co-op elevator. The cattle feeder is worried that spring rains have delayed corn planting and will force current corn prices upward in the future. Therefore, he buys twenty 10,000 bushel corn futures contracts at $3.15 per bushel on the Chicago Board of Trade. Question 43 (1.8 points) By taking this action did the cattle feeder reduce the potential risk of a corn price increase? Futures contracts actually offer no protection against price changes for a commodity Yes, but the cattle feeder should have sold corn futures contracts to reduce price risk. No, he should have sold corn futures contracts for the feedlot operation. No, the position he took (buying contracts) has risk itself since he does not produce corn. Yes, his potential price risk is reduced by buying corn futures contracts. Question 44(1.8 points) A few months pass and the cattle feeder now needs corn so he buys 200,000 bushels of corn from the local grain elevator for $3.05 and then closes his futures contracts at $3.35 per bushel. The "basis" on corn at this time is $0.30 $3.05 $0.20 $3.35 $3.15 Question 45 (1.8 points) How much did the cattle feeder make (or lose) on the futures market if commission costs totaled $6,000? -$14,000 $34,000 $54,000 Question 46 (1.8 points) The cattle feeder's final net price paid for the corn (without including the commission costs) was $2.85 $3.05 $3.15 $3.08 $3.25 Question 47 (1.8 points) What risks did the farmer still face when he bought the futures contracts? The risk that the basis would change for his futures contracts. The risk he would have to deliver corn to the Chicago Board of Trade. The risk that the Chicago Board of Trade will not pay him the money it owes him. The risk that economic factors (high expenses, low corn supply) will push the corn price up further. The risk of having to accept delivery from the Chicago Board of Trade