ISSN 2221-1055  •  e-ISSN 2413-2322

The impact of operating leverage and financial elasticity on the budgeting of variable costs in grain production

Received: 01.08.2025 Revised: 03.11.2025 Accepted: 02.12.2025 Published: 30.12.2025
Abstract

The sustainability of financial strategies in agricultural enterprises depended on accurate forecasting of production parameters and associated credit risks under volatile market conditions. This study aimed to assess the technological response of grain production to changes in resource supply and to integrate the results into liquidity forecasting and negative interest rate risk assessment. The estimated quadratic production function adequately captured the nonlinear response of wheat yield to variable inputs, confirming diminishing marginal returns. The model demonstrated satisfactory statistical performance (R² = 0.606, adjusted R² = 0.409) and was statistically significant (F = 3.073, p = 0.027). The identified technological optimum corresponded to a maximum predicted yield of 55.1 c/ha, achieved at fertiliser and seed expenditures of approximately 5.3 and 0.85 thousand UAH/ha, respectively. When value-based indicators were applied, the optimum shifted toward profit maximisation. The maximum marginal profit reached 9.32 thousand UAH/ha at slightly lower input levels, with a corresponding yield of 53.8 c/ha, while the maximum net profit equalled 5.46 thousand UAH/ha after accounting for fixed costs. The operating leverage analysis revealed pronounced nonlinearity of financial sensitivity. Extremely high DOL values (up to 9.99) occurred in underfunded production regimes, where net profit approaches zero, indicating critical operational instability, whereas a stable DOL range of 1.1-1.6 corresponded to moderate input levels. Scenario analysis of credit conditions (±20% interest rate variation) indicated asymmetric interest rate risk. The highest financial elasticity of net profit (E ≈ 0.10) was observed in low-input, loss-making regimes, while near the technological optimum elasticity approaches zero, indicating relative financial resilience. The results confirmed that integrating production modelling with financial sensitivity indicators improved liquidity forecasting and credit planning in grain production

Keywords
parabolic production function; resource optimisation; marginal profit; liquidity; interest rate risk; financial planning
Details
DOI https://doi.org/10.32317/ekon.apk/6.2025.10
Pages 10-20
  1. Abid, K., Zhang, D., Xiongyuan, W., & Aneela, I.I. (2024). Impact of leverage on firm financial performance: Evidence from Pakistan. International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Research, 8(5), 63-80. doi: 10.51505/IJEBMR.2024.8506.
  2. Akhavizadegan, F., Ansarifar, J., Wang, L., & Archontoulis, S.V. (2022). Risk‑averse stochastic optimization for farm management practices and cultivar selection under uncertainty. arXivdoi: 10.48550/arXiv.2208.04840.
  3. Bachynsky, R. (2022). Substantiation of principles of management of economic stability of agricultural enterprises. AIC Economics and Management, 1, 160-169. doi: 10.33245/2310-9262-2022-172-1-160-169.
  4. Barry, P.J., & Ellinger, P.N. (2012). Financial management in agriculture (7th ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
  5. Byoun, S. (2021). Financial flexibility demand and corporate financial decisions. The Financial Review, 56(3), 481-509. doi: 10.1111/fire.12258.
  6. Escalante, C.L., & Barry, P.J. (2001). Risk balancing in an integrated farm risk management plan. Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 33(3), 413-429. doi: 10.1017/S1074070800020927.
  7. FAO. (2021). World food and agriculture – statistical yearbook 2021. Rome: FAO. doi: 10.4060/cb4477en.
  8. Hegde, A.A., Panda, A.K., & Masuna, V. (2022). Does companies’ financial flexibility drive their leverage dynamics? New evidence. Managerial Finance, 49(2), 270-290. doi: 10.1108/MF-07-2022-0317.
  9. Hernandez-Romero, M., & Coenders, G. (2025). Financial resilience of agricultural and food production companies in Spain: A compositional cluster analysis of the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war (2021-2023). arXivdoi: 10.48550/arXiv.2504.05912.
  10. Hmyrya, V. (2017). Features assessment of the financial viability of credit conditions in agricultural production. Scientific Bulletin of Polissia, 2(1), 151-157. doi: 10.25140/10.25140/2410-957620171(9)151-157.
  11. Kochetkov, O., & Afanasova, J. (2020). Formation the mechanism of resource management of potential of agricultural enterprises. The Economic Discourse, 2, 118-126. doi: 10.36742/2410-0919-2020-2-12.
  12. Lotysh, O., & Kardash, A. (2021). Microeconomic analysis global grain market. Economy and Society, 24. doi: 10.32782/2524-0072/2021-24-29.
  13. Maronrong, R., Suriawinata, I.S., & Septiliana (2022). Pengaruh profitabilitas, leverage, operating capacity dan corporate governance terhadap financial distress Perusahaan Ritel di BEI Tahun 2011-2017. Jurnal Akuntansi dan Manajemen, 19(2), 91-103. doi: 10.36406/jam.v19i02.743.
  14. Miao, B.-L., Liu, Y., Fan, Y.-B., Niu, X.-J., Jiang, X.-Y., & Tang, Z. (2023). Optimization of agricultural resource allocation among crops: A portfolio model analysis. Land, 12(10), article number 1901. doi: 10.3390/land12101901.
  15. Morais, F., Serrasqueiro, Z., & Ramalho, J.J. (2021). The zero-leverage phenomenon in European listed firms: A financing decision or an imposition of the financial market? BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 27(3), 301-232. doi: 10.1177/23409444211024653.
  16. Odhiambo, J.D., Murori, C.K., & Aringo, C.E. (2025). Financial leverage and firm performance: An empirical review and analysis. East African Finance Journal, 4(1), 25-35. doi: 10.59413/eafj/v4.i1.2.
  17. OECD. (n.d.). Agriculture and fisheries. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/topics/agricultural-risk-management/.
  18. Okeke, N.I., Bakare, O.A., & Achumie, G.O. (2024). Forecasting financial stability in SMEs: A comprehensive analysis of strategic budgeting and revenue management. Open Access Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 8(1), 139-149. doi: 10.53022/oarjms.2024.8.1.0055.
  19. Rissi, D.M., & Herman, L.A. (2021). Pengaruh likuiditas, profitabilitas, financial leverage, dan arus kas operasi dalam memprediksi kondisi financial distress. Akuntansi dan Manajemen, 16(2), 68-86. doi: 10.30630/jam.v16i2.143.
  20. State Statistics Service of Ukraine. (2021). Agriculture of Ukraine 2020Kyiv: State Statistics Service of Ukraine.
  21. Svynous, I., Havryk, O., & Matula, T. (2021). Accounting and analytical aspects of cost management in agricultural enterprises. The Economic Discourse, 1-2, 29-39. doi: 10.36742/2410-0919-2021-1-3.
  22. Tomilin, O., Krasnikova, O., Gechbaia, B., Zorya, S., Drobotya, Y., & Synytsia, Yu. (2023). Risk management in the agrarian sector: Financial aspects. Financial and Credit Activity: Problems of Theory and Practice, 4(51), 147-162. doi: 10.55643/fcaptp.4.51.2023.4096.
  23. Tomilin, O., & Oleksashenko, Ya. (2025). Insurance of financial risks as a tool for stabilising the financial condition of agricultural enterprises. Ahrosvit, 4, 70-74. doi: 10.32702/2306-6792.2025.4.70.
  24. Zdir, V., Kulik, Yu., & Gligalo, N. (2019). Financial and accounting support of Ukraine agricultural production. Economic Space, 152, 81-92. doi: 10.32782/2224-6282/152-7.
Makohon, V. (2025). The impact of operating leverage and financial elasticity on the budgeting of variable costs in grain production. Ekonomika APK, 32(6), 10-20. https://doi.org/10.32317/ekon.apk/6.2025.10