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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

Latest articles

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'
10th Apr 15, 11:34am
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
1st Apr 15, 1:00pm
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
1st Apr 15, 9:24am
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
28th Mar 15, 12:08pm
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
18th Mar 15, 12:02pm
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
28th Feb 15, 11:10am
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
20th Feb 15, 1:47pm
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
12th Feb 15, 4:10pm
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
7th Feb 15, 9:40am
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
21st Jan 15, 9:51am
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
24th Dec 14, 4:25pm
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
16th Dec 14, 10:11am
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
12th Dec 14, 1:41pm
by Allan Barber
33
Allan Barber is incredulous about the MyMilk offer from Fonterra, even more interested to know what Fonterra shareholding suppliers think
Plenty of interest in moratorium proposal
Allan Barber reports on the reaction to the 'moratorium proposal' among the leaders of the key players affected
6th Dec 14, 8:03am
by Allan Barber
11
Allan Barber reports on the reaction to the 'moratorium proposal' among the leaders of the key players affected
Big changes afoot in red meat sector
Allan Barber says that significant progress may soon be possible if a moratorium on new licences can underpin capacity rationalisation without stifling innovation or competition
22nd Nov 14, 5:05pm
by Allan Barber
21
Allan Barber says that significant progress may soon be possible if a moratorium on new licences can underpin capacity rationalisation without stifling innovation or competition
Meat trade unrecognisable from 40 years ago
Allan Barber reviews the history of the redmeat processing industry which shows both farmers and processors have made tremendous progress
21st Nov 14, 2:04pm
by Allan Barber
1
Allan Barber reviews the history of the redmeat processing industry which shows both farmers and processors have made tremendous progress
Changes at the top for both meat cooperatives and a return to profit for Ferns
New Zealand's main meat co-operatives are undergoing change. Allan Barber assesses the recent history of both and prospects for each
13th Nov 14, 1:17pm
by Allan Barber
New Zealand's main meat co-operatives are undergoing change. Allan Barber assesses the recent history of both and prospects for each
Owen Ferris - New Zealand lamb’s finest salesman
Allan Barber profiles a key personality who drove the sales of New Zealand lamb in the UK
11th Nov 14, 4:16pm
by Allan Barber
Allan Barber profiles a key personality who drove the sales of New Zealand lamb in the UK
Silver Fern Farms heaves sigh of relief
Allan Barber looks behind the latest Silver Fern Farms profit result and its change of senior managers, assessing the options for its future
31st Oct 14, 1:00pm
by Allan Barber
Allan Barber looks behind the latest Silver Fern Farms profit result and its change of senior managers, assessing the options for its future
Changes afoot in Japanese rice farming
Allan Barber wonders if the long-standing reluctance of Japan to open up its markets to agricultural imports may be coming to an end as its rice farming 'rots from the inside'
23rd Oct 14, 11:10am
by Allan Barber
1
Allan Barber wonders if the long-standing reluctance of Japan to open up its markets to agricultural imports may be coming to an end as its rice farming 'rots from the inside'
Farmers in favour of meat industry restructuring
Allan Barber is hopeful, sceptical, and suspicious of the latest MIE group's survey and its prospects for adoption. Bridge, water, more
6th Oct 14, 4:52pm
by Allan Barber
1
Allan Barber is hopeful, sceptical, and suspicious of the latest MIE group's survey and its prospects for adoption. Bridge, water, more
Election result should be good for agriculture
Allan Barber surveys the implications of the election result on the rural sector and finds most leaders see present policies delivering "the desired outcomes"
1st Oct 14, 10:12am
by Allan Barber
18
Allan Barber surveys the implications of the election result on the rural sector and finds most leaders see present policies delivering "the desired outcomes"
MIE meat industry plan out soon
Allan Barber describes where MIE are at trying to improve 'a bad system', but suspects what we have is 'the best there is'
19th Sep 14, 2:34pm
by Allan Barber
9
Allan Barber describes where MIE are at trying to improve 'a bad system', but suspects what we have is 'the best there is'
Future of red meat promotion under threat
Allan Barber is concerned about an industry inability to agree on an effective country-of-origin promotion strategy
17th Sep 14, 1:54pm
by Allan Barber
1
Allan Barber is concerned about an industry inability to agree on an effective country-of-origin promotion strategy
Science and bees essential for prosperity
Allan Barber likes what Federated Farmers is focusing on for the rural sector. The importance of bees and the core role science plays are key issues he says
13th Sep 14, 11:01am
by Allan Barber
14
Allan Barber likes what Federated Farmers is focusing on for the rural sector. The importance of bees and the core role science plays are key issues he says