Fluctuations in commodity prices are a major concern to many market participants. This paper uses realized volatility methods to calculate daily volatility and correlation estimates for three grain futures prices (corn, soybean and wheat). The realized volatility estimates exhibit the properties consistent with the stylized facts observed in earlier studies. According to the realized correlatio...

This paper studies the market phenomenon of non-convergence between futures and spot prices in the grains market. We postulate that the positive basis observed at maturity stems from the futures holder’s timing options to exercise the shipping certificate delivery item and subsequently liquidate the physical grain. In our proposed approach, we incorporate stochastic spot price and storage cost,...

Grain price and output fluctuation are the normal state of market economy. It is one of the most important economic researches to understand grain price and output fluctuation law, which provides theory basis for the macroeconomic regulation and control. According to the cobweb model theory, the relationship between citrus production and price is accord with the divergence type of cobweb model ...

Moisture content of grain is one of the important parameters always considered when deciding the quality and price of grain, at the stage of harvesting, storage, processing and marketing. Grain having excess moisture content, if stored for long duration, will spoil due to insect/fungus infestation. Portable, field usable, and easy-to-use direct moisture (%) display Grain Moisture Meter is a nec...

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., Poaceae] has been historically grown for forage production and cattle grazing in the US. It is widely grown as a multi-purpose cereal grain crop principally for food, and also for feed, fodder, fuel, and mulch on more than 26 million hectares, primarily in arid and semi-arid regions of India and Africa (FAO 2000). It is a staple grain for about 90 m...

Although it is difficult, many countries are attempting to balance economic development and cultivated land preservation for various reasons. China’s experience is a good illustration of such challenges during rapid economic development and urbanization. The central government of China emphasized the high self-sufficiency ratio of grain and therefore set a bottom-line for the area of cultivated...

The importance of maize (Zea mays) in Ugandan economy has been increasing since 1990’s. The crop is grown for both local and foreign markets by mainly small-scale farmers. The bulk of the crop is shelled using the rudimentary traditional methods, which have low productivity and result into maize grain of low market value. Earlier studies conducted by Agricultural Engineering and Appropriate Tec...