A farmer is producing where MC = MR. Say that half of the cost of producing wheat is the rental cost of land (a fixed cost) and half is the cost of labor and machines (a variable cost). If the average total cost of producing wheat is $26 and the price of wheat is $10, what would you advise the farmer to do? (âGrow something elseâ is not allowed.)
a. In the short run, the farmer should shut down because he is making a net loss. By producing he will lose $16 per unit, but if he did not produce he would simply have zero profit.
b. The farmer should reduce output so that average total costs would decline.
c. The farmer should increase the price at which he sells wheat to $26.
d. In the short run, the farmer should still grow wheat because by producing he will lose $16 per unit, but if he did not produce he would lose $13 per unit. In the long run, the farmer will go out of business.
A farmer is producing where MC = MR. Say that half of the cost of producing wheat is the rental cost of land (a fixed cost) and half is the cost of labor and machines (a variable cost). If the average total cost of producing wheat is $26 and the price of wheat is $10, what would you advise the farmer to do? (âGrow something elseâ is not allowed.)
a. In the short run, the farmer should shut down because he is making a net loss. By producing he will lose $16 per unit, but if he did not produce he would simply have zero profit.
b. The farmer should reduce output so that average total costs would decline.
c. The farmer should increase the price at which he sells wheat to $26.
d. In the short run, the farmer should still grow wheat because by producing he will lose $16 per unit, but if he did not produce he would lose $13 per unit. In the long run, the farmer will go out of business.
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II. Mr. I.M Farmer has been producing 500 acres of irrigated cotton in the Texas High Plains. He is very concerned about increasing fuel costs because he uses a lot of fuel to pump irrigation water. He is also concerned because he believes that the price of cotton could drop to 58 cents per pound. He is not sure that he can profitably produce cotton if the price falls to 58 cents or less.
Assume you have been asked to analyze this problem. With the help of an extension agent, you developed the following cost schedule for irrigated cotton at various levels of production. All costs were figured on a per-acre basis. Fixed costs are $110 per acre. Total variable costs per acre are listed in the chart below.
Mr. Farmer has asked you to compute the profit-maximizing level of production and the amount of profit he can expect at various cotton prices. He particularly wants advice about whether or not he should produce any cotton at all if the price drops to 58 cents per pound. (Assume I. M. Farmer has no alternative to cotton; that is he either produces cotton or nothing.)
1. What is the most profitable cotton yield if the price is 80 cents per pound? What is the profit or loss per acre?
Yield_________________________________
Profit/Loss_________ _______________
2. a) If the price does fall to 58 cents per pound, should Mr. Farmer produce any cotton?
( ) Yes ( ) No
If yes, profit maximizing yield per acre___________________
Profit/loss per acre______ ______
b) How much would Mr. Farmer lose if he did not produce any cotton some year?
Loss per acre_____________________
3. If the expected price is only 40 cents per pound, should Mr. Farmer try to produce anything?
( ) Yes ( ) No
If he does produce, how much? ______ ___________lbs per acre.
What would Profit/Loss be if he produces? __ ________(per acre)
4. What is the lowest price that Mr. Farmer can receive and just cover all his costs? At what yield?
Price_________ _________________
Yield_________ ___________________
Profit/Loss_____ ____________(per acre)
5. At what price will Mr. Farmer stop producing? ____ ___________
Total Product (lbs./acre) |
Total variable cost |
Total fixed cost |
Total cost |
Average Cost Per Lb. |
Marginal cost |
Marginal Revenue |
|||||
Fixed |
Variable |
Total |
Marginal Cost |
Marginal Revenue |
|||||||
200 |
65.80 |
110 |
175.8 |
.55 |
.33 |
.88 |
.224 |
.58 |
|||
250 |
77.00 |
110 |
187 |
.44 |
.31 |
.75 |
.073 |
.58 |
|||
300 |
80.68 |
110 |
190.68 |
.36 |
.27 |
.63 |
.14 |
.58 |
|
||
350 |
87.59 |
110 |
197.59 |
.314 |
.25 |
.56 |
.15 |
.58 |
|||
400 |
94.94 |
110 |
204.94 |
.28 |
.24 |
.52 |
.18 |
.58 |
|||
450 |
103.80 |
110 |
213.8 |
.24 |
.23 |
.47 |
.23 |
.58 |
|||
500 |
115.30 |
110 |
225.30 |
.22 |
.23 |
.45 |
.02 |
.58 |
|||
550 |
133.30 |
110 |
243.30 |
.20 |
.24 |
.44 |
.36 |
.58 |
|||
600 |
155.55 |
110 |
265.55 |
.18 |
.26 |
.44 |
.45 |
.58 |
|||
650 |
182.80 |
110 |
292.80 |
.17 |
.28 |
.45 |
.56 |
.58 |
|||
700 |
215.55 |
110 |
325.55 |
.16 |
.31 |
.47 |
.66 |
.58 |
|||
750 |
254.30 |
110 |
364.30 |
.15 |
.34 |
.49 |
.78 |
.58 |
|||
800 |
295.80 |
110 |
405.8 |
.14 |
.37 |
.51 |
.83 |
.58 |
Given Fixed costs $ 110 per acre, and the price drops to 58 cents per pound. Complet the Marginal Revenue. on the table below.
1. What is the most profitable cotton yield if the price is 80 cents per pound? What is the profit or loss per acre?
yield ___________________
Profit or loss ___________________
2. a. If the price does fall to 58 cents per pound, should the farmer produce any cotton?
( ) yes ( ) no
If yes profit maximamizing yield per acre ________________
Profit /loss per acre __________
b. How much would the farmer lose if he did not produce any cotton some year?
Loss per acre _______________
3. If the expected price is only 40 cents per pound, should the farmer try to produce anything?
( ) Yes ( ) No
If he does produce, how much? ___________ lbs per acre.
What would profit/loss be if he produces? ______________ (per acre)
4. what is the lowest price that the farmer can receive and adjust to cover all his costs? At what yield?
Price _______________
Yield _________________
Profit/loss _____________ (per acre)
5. At what price will the farmer top producing ? _________________
Total Product (lbs./acre) |
Total variable cost |
Total fixed cost |
Total cost |
Average Cost Per Lb. |
Marginal cost |
Marginal Revenue |
|||||
Fixed |
Variable |
Total |
Marginal Cost |
Marginal Revenue |
|||||||
200 |
65.80 |
110 |
175.8 |
.55 |
.33 |
.88 |
.224 |
? |
|||
250 |
77.00 |
110 |
187 |
.44 |
.31 |
.75 |
.073 |
? |
|||
300 |
80.68 |
110 |
190.68 |
.36 |
.27 |
.63 |
.14 |
? |
|
||
350 |
87.59 |
110 |
197.59 |
.314 |
.25 |
.56 |
.15 |
? |
|||
400 |
94.94 |
110 |
204.94 |
.28 |
.24 |
.52 |
.18 |
? |
|||
450 |
103.80 |
110 |
213.8 |
.24 |
.23 |
.47 |
.23 |
? |
|||
500 |
115.30 |
110 |
225.30 |
.22 |
.23 |
.45 |
.02 |
? |
|||
550 |
133.30 |
110 |
243.30 |
.20 |
.24 |
.44 |
.36 |
? |
|||
600 |
155.55 |
110 |
265.55 |
.18 |
.26 |
.44 |
.45 |
? |
|||
650 |
182.80 |
110 |
292.80 |
.17 |
.28 |
.45 |
.56 |
? |
|||
700 |
215.55 |
110 |
325.55 |
.16 |
.31 |
.47 |
.66 |
? |
|||
750 |
254.30 |
110 |
364.30 |
.15 |
.34 |
.49 |
.78 |
? |
|||
800 |
295.80 |
110 |
405.8 |
.14 |
.37 |
.51 |
.83 |
? |