Recall the Application about the break-even price for growing switchgrass, a perennial grass that is native to the U.S. plains states and is used to create biofuel, to answer the following question(s).
Recall the Application. If the minimum of average total cost for switchgrass farmers is $55 per ton and the minimum of average variable costs is $40 per ton, then at a price of $35 per ton in the short run the switchgrass farmer will:
◦ make a zero economic profit.
◦ shut down, that is bring no switchgrass to market.
◦ operate losing money.
◦ make a positive economic profit.