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Allan Barber

About

Now in his semi-retirement at Point Wells near Warkworth, Allan is a freelance agricultural journalist writing mainly about the meat industry which has remained his key area of interest since leaving AFFCO in 1997.

Member for

12 years 1 month

Latest articles

Allan Barber explains why it will be tougher in 2024 for red meat exports with both our main customers being offered rising volumes from our trans-Tasman cousins
15th Mar 24, 10:41am
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Allan Barber explains why it will be tougher in 2024 for red meat exports with both our main customers being offered rising volumes from our trans-Tasman cousins
A year after the 2023 floods, Allan Barber returns to Kaipara Hills district to talk to farmers about how they are coping with the aftermath and how they are adapting their farming systems
29th Feb 24, 10:03am
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A year after the 2023 floods, Allan Barber returns to Kaipara Hills district to talk to farmers about how they are coping with the aftermath and how they are adapting their farming systems
Allan Barber finds that 'new' research needs to be assessed critically when it comes to climate claims. A grass-fed vs grain-fed study raises issues that apply widely
15th Feb 24, 11:32am
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Allan Barber finds that 'new' research needs to be assessed critically when it comes to climate claims. A grass-fed vs grain-fed study raises issues that apply widely
[updated]
Allan Barber wonders if Fonterra's lock on large scale supply is inhibiting competitors who need volume to make the most of higher value product opportunities
30th Jan 24, 11:17am
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Allan Barber wonders if Fonterra's lock on large scale supply is inhibiting competitors who need volume to make the most of higher value product opportunities
Allan Barber assesses how the first 30 years of the European Union has worked out, a formation that has had an impact New Zealand's trade with Europe
19th Jan 24, 9:46am
3
Allan Barber assesses how the first 30 years of the European Union has worked out, a formation that has had an impact New Zealand's trade with Europe
The change of Government has brought a change in the ministers of trade and agriculture, but it is veterans replacing veterans. Allan Barber assesses past performance and likely future performance, but notes change is not likely to be major
19th Dec 23, 9:02am
2
The change of Government has brought a change in the ministers of trade and agriculture, but it is veterans replacing veterans. Allan Barber assesses past performance and likely future performance, but notes change is not likely to be major
Allan Barber reviews Alliance Group's poor trading result and tries to make sense of the company's optimism in light of some strong market headwinds, as well as their capital structure that is not bolstered by others
5th Dec 23, 4:05pm
Allan Barber reviews Alliance Group's poor trading result and tries to make sense of the company's optimism in light of some strong market headwinds, as well as their capital structure that is not bolstered by others
Allan Barber reviews the community effort going in to land restoration and the related workshop in the Mahurangi region. He also delves into an example of one farmer tackling his erosion problem
21st Nov 23, 9:42am
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Allan Barber reviews the community effort going in to land restoration and the related workshop in the Mahurangi region. He also delves into an example of one farmer tackling his erosion problem
Allan Barber reports that meat processors are assessing the changes they will need to make as forest conversions eat into their livestock supply flows
1st Nov 23, 12:24pm
2
Allan Barber reports that meat processors are assessing the changes they will need to make as forest conversions eat into their livestock supply flows
Allan Barber says allowing fossil fuel emitters to offset 100% of their emissions by carbon farming gives them an unjustified advantage over food farming land uses, hollowing out the hill country communities especially
24th Oct 23, 12:01am
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Allan Barber says allowing fossil fuel emitters to offset 100% of their emissions by carbon farming gives them an unjustified advantage over food farming land uses, hollowing out the hill country communities especially
Allan Barber says understanding the customer's customer has added importance in China for New Zealand food exporters. Local market experts like Mark Tanner and David Mahon can provide key insights
3rd Oct 23, 8:17am
Allan Barber says understanding the customer's customer has added importance in China for New Zealand food exporters. Local market experts like Mark Tanner and David Mahon can provide key insights
Allan Barber sees the recent tone deaf announcement from Damien O'Connor enabling policies that incentivise the wrong outcome, and risking dangerous delays to the sustainability progress that the HWEN consensus has already won with farmers
12th Sep 23, 10:51am
2
Allan Barber sees the recent tone deaf announcement from Damien O'Connor enabling policies that incentivise the wrong outcome, and risking dangerous delays to the sustainability progress that the HWEN consensus has already won with farmers
It is one thing for our trade negotiators to win benefits and concessions. But the value is lost if exporters and traders apply to use them
22nd Aug 23, 4:27pm
It is one thing for our trade negotiators to win benefits and concessions. But the value is lost if exporters and traders apply to use them
The 2023 Red Meat Sector Conference political debate by the key candidates refrained from sharp partisan positions, offered considered positions to generally difficult issues, leaving the audience unsatisfied for the silver bullets they sought
15th Aug 23, 12:02pm
1
The 2023 Red Meat Sector Conference political debate by the key candidates refrained from sharp partisan positions, offered considered positions to generally difficult issues, leaving the audience unsatisfied for the silver bullets they sought
Allan Barber likes the progress NZ has made with a broad set of trade deals. The challenge now is to avoid the pesky non-tariff barriers countries raise
1st Aug 23, 12:48pm
1
Allan Barber likes the progress NZ has made with a broad set of trade deals. The challenge now is to avoid the pesky non-tariff barriers countries raise
Allan Barber highlights the long term project by the Forest Bridge Trust to restore the biodiversity from the Kaipara Harbour in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, across North Auckland
18th Jul 23, 1:31pm
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Allan Barber highlights the long term project by the Forest Bridge Trust to restore the biodiversity from the Kaipara Harbour in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, across North Auckland
Allan Barber welcomes the safer faster extension of Auckland's northern motorway into Northland and calls for a speeded up process to get it all the way to Whangarei
6th Jul 23, 9:36am
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Allan Barber welcomes the safer faster extension of Auckland's northern motorway into Northland and calls for a speeded up process to get it all the way to Whangarei
Allan Barber finds that farmers in the Kaipara Hills and neighbouring areas are getting on with the recovery process, although much of the land will take years to repair
22nd Jun 23, 1:00pm
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Allan Barber finds that farmers in the Kaipara Hills and neighbouring areas are getting on with the recovery process, although much of the land will take years to repair
Allan Barber reports that in key markets, demand for fake meat is sharply lower while demand for the real thing is rising. The climate impacts of red meat farming are getting better understood too
7th Jun 23, 10:36am
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Allan Barber reports that in key markets, demand for fake meat is sharply lower while demand for the real thing is rising. The climate impacts of red meat farming are getting better understood too
Allan Barber reports that the red meat sector sees favourable market conditions into the foreseeable future. The processor exporters are well structured to take advantage
23rd May 23, 12:38pm
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Allan Barber reports that the red meat sector sees favourable market conditions into the foreseeable future. The processor exporters are well structured to take advantage
Allan Barber says the risk for agricultural sector voters is to resist action in the expectation a change of government will let them off the hook - which is a far from a guaranteed outcome
11th May 23, 10:35am
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Allan Barber says the risk for agricultural sector voters is to resist action in the expectation a change of government will let them off the hook - which is a far from a guaranteed outcome
Allan Barber says the predicted benefit of the major Chinese investment in Silver Fern Farms, strongly resisted at the time by a minority of supplier shareholders, has now become crystal clear
26th Apr 23, 8:39am
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Allan Barber says the predicted benefit of the major Chinese investment in Silver Fern Farms, strongly resisted at the time by a minority of supplier shareholders, has now become crystal clear
In the run-up to the election, farmer groups are pressing for a pause to work out which bits of the legislative rush are flawed or in need of more thought
11th Apr 23, 10:43am
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In the run-up to the election, farmer groups are pressing for a pause to work out which bits of the legislative rush are flawed or in need of more thought
The interdependence of livestock farmers and meat processors has been on full display following the cyclone damage, a time when loyalty can be rewarded in many important ways
28th Mar 23, 10:23am
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The interdependence of livestock farmers and meat processors has been on full display following the cyclone damage, a time when loyalty can be rewarded in many important ways
Allan Barber surveys farmers in areas of lower Northland who have suffered horrific stock, infrastructure and land damage. Rural isolation in the area has been partly because their roading infrastructure has been left to deteriorate
16th Mar 23, 1:52pm
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Allan Barber surveys farmers in areas of lower Northland who have suffered horrific stock, infrastructure and land damage. Rural isolation in the area has been partly because their roading infrastructure has been left to deteriorate