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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

14 years 7 months

Latest articles

Getting to the bottom of the NAIT puzzle
Allan Barber explores the reasons the NAIT system was adopted and whether it will deliver when its data is really needed
by Allan Barber
6
Allan Barber explores the reasons the NAIT system was adopted and whether it will deliver when its data is really needed
NAIT still apparently riddled with errors
Allan Barber questions the reliability of the compulsory tagging of cattle and deer with officially approved RFID tags
by Allan Barber
11
Allan Barber questions the reliability of the compulsory tagging of cattle and deer with officially approved RFID tags
Why joint red meat marketing agreement failed
Allan Barber reviews the high hopes, the reasons for failure, and wonders where to now
by Allan Barber
1
Allan Barber reviews the high hopes, the reasons for failure, and wonders where to now
Longer season and drought affect Silver Ferns’ banking headroom
Allan Barber reviews the capacity and financial situation at Silver Fern Farms, concluding 'there is no alternative' to outside capital
by Allan Barber
2
Allan Barber reviews the capacity and financial situation at Silver Fern Farms, concluding 'there is no alternative' to outside capital
Trade agreements are tricky animals
Allan Barber compares the prospects of two trade agreements currently being negotiated - the TPPA and the Gulf States FTA - and finds murky waters
by Allan Barber
7
Allan Barber compares the prospects of two trade agreements currently being negotiated - the TPPA and the Gulf States FTA - and finds murky waters
Saudi sheep farming venture a dog’s breakfast
Allan Barber wonders if the Government has learned its lesson over the 'farcical' Gulf States Agrihub venture
by Allan Barber
3
Allan Barber wonders if the Government has learned its lesson over the 'farcical' Gulf States Agrihub venture
Agribusiness Agenda poses challenges
Easy to say, hard to do: add value to our agricultural output. How do we build our 'powerhouses' with the 7 key attributes in their DNA
by Allan Barber
13
Easy to say, hard to do: add value to our agricultural output. How do we build our 'powerhouses' with the 7 key attributes in their DNA
Red meat prices in the dark ages
Allan Barber takes a brief look back at how meat schedules were set in the time taxpayers underpinned farmer incomes
by Allan Barber
8
Allan Barber takes a brief look back at how meat schedules were set in the time taxpayers underpinned farmer incomes
"It’s up to farmers"
Allan Barber reviews the strategic and operational choices facing the Alliance Group, with its new industry-outsider CEO, David Surveyor
by Allan Barber
Allan Barber reviews the strategic and operational choices facing the Alliance Group, with its new industry-outsider CEO, David Surveyor
The real priority
Allan Barber warns of the risks in the way MPI is setting its priorities and says it risks loss of focus on food safety and biosecurity
by Allan Barber
1
Allan Barber warns of the risks in the way MPI is setting its priorities and says it risks loss of focus on food safety and biosecurity
Unlikely lower dairy payout will lead to immediate land use change
Allan Barber says alternate land use options are limited when all have restrained profitability at the same time. He reviews the outlook
by Allan Barber
19
Allan Barber says alternate land use options are limited when all have restrained profitability at the same time. He reviews the outlook
Just talk?
Allan Barber sees little sign of enthusiasm among the meat processors for taking up MIE report recommendations
by Allan Barber
Allan Barber sees little sign of enthusiasm among the meat processors for taking up MIE report recommendations
NZ farmers a lot better off than British counterparts
British farmers in trouble, reports Allan Barber. Financial sustainability undermined by being forced to face global forces, threatening local 'food security'
by Allan Barber
10
British farmers in trouble, reports Allan Barber. Financial sustainability undermined by being forced to face global forces, threatening local 'food security'
MIE plan stimulates debate but won’t fix the problem
MIE’s plan is heavy on production cost and efficiency analysis with a wish-list of what is desirable, but light on strategy for achieving it, says Allan Barber
by Allan Barber
2
MIE’s plan is heavy on production cost and efficiency analysis with a wish-list of what is desirable, but light on strategy for achieving it, says Allan Barber
Fonterra’s disappointing performance
Allan Barber explores the inherent conflict between cooperative members’ expectations and external investors’ desire for returns on their investment
by Allan Barber
3
Allan Barber explores the inherent conflict between cooperative members’ expectations and external investors’ desire for returns on their investment
Landcorp optimistic despite low half year profit
SOE's CEO focusing on key initiatives to drive improvements and beat the commodity cycles
by Allan Barber
SOE's CEO focusing on key initiatives to drive improvements and beat the commodity cycles
Good red meat report offers challenging solutions
Allan Barber reviews the major MIE report which contains some serious options for revitalising the red meat sector, but wonders whether it will lead to change
by Allan Barber
7
Allan Barber reviews the major MIE report which contains some serious options for revitalising the red meat sector, but wonders whether it will lead to change
ANZCO's ownership and management evolving, concentrating
Allan Barber looks at the recent changes at ANZCO Foods and the new path Itoham Foods is taking them
by Allan Barber
Allan Barber looks at the recent changes at ANZCO Foods and the new path Itoham Foods is taking them
Come on John, give them a break!
Allan Barber takes on John McCarthy again ... arguing that seasons and market conditions make a much bigger contribution to price variability than ownership structures
by Allan Barber
Allan Barber takes on John McCarthy again ... arguing that seasons and market conditions make a much bigger contribution to price variability than ownership structures
Conditions not structures cause of red meat price drop
Allan Barber says that fast changing market conditions are behind the fall in all red meat prices and they would be faced by any industry structure
by Allan Barber
14
Allan Barber says that fast changing market conditions are behind the fall in all red meat prices and they would be faced by any industry structure
Who will run A&P Shows of the future?
Allan Barber assesses the changes confronting A&P Shows and shows how one is adapting to the erosion of its traditional constituency
by Allan Barber
1
Allan Barber assesses the changes confronting A&P Shows and shows how one is adapting to the erosion of its traditional constituency
Wool trade still at crossroads
Allan Barber unpicks farmer scepticism of the wool trade and finds remarkable similarities to their red meat opinions - and a disconnect with their actions
by Allan Barber
Allan Barber unpicks farmer scepticism of the wool trade and finds remarkable similarities to their red meat opinions - and a disconnect with their actions
Silver Fern Farms release audited result just before Christmas
After a torrid three years with combined pre-tax losses of $77 million the big meat processor claims positives even though it misses guidance
by Allan Barber
After a torrid three years with combined pre-tax losses of $77 million the big meat processor claims positives even though it misses guidance
Lifting the average is the key
Allan Barber wonders if the focus on processor industry reform is the key to better returns; perhaps the real solutions are to be found on-farm
by Allan Barber
3
Allan Barber wonders if the focus on processor industry reform is the key to better returns; perhaps the real solutions are to be found on-farm
Mymilk likely to get up noses of Fonterra shareholders
Allan Barber is incredulous about the MyMilk offer from Fonterra, even more interested to know what Fonterra shareholding suppliers think
by Allan Barber
33
Allan Barber is incredulous about the MyMilk offer from Fonterra, even more interested to know what Fonterra shareholding suppliers think