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 2 months

Latest articles

Meat options paper seeks farmer opinions

Allan Barber reviews the Fed options paper, in light of history and his view that alignment with a processor is a key requirement

17th Jan 14, 4:28pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews the Fed options paper, in light of history and his view that alignment with a processor is a key requirement

Red meat exports

Allan Barber compares the red meat markets of New Zealand with those of Australia and finds significant differences

14th Jan 14, 2:26pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber compares the red meat markets of New Zealand with those of Australia and finds significant differences

Beef news from Brazil

Allan Barber says Brazil is about to move in on 'our markets' for beef - and in a big way

23rd Dec 13, 3:20pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says Brazil is about to move in on 'our markets' for beef - and in a big way

Meat industry looks interesting in 2014

Allan Barber wonders whether the new boards or new reviews can achieve the industry restructuring that has been endlessly sought

20th Dec 13, 4:18pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber wonders whether the new boards or new reviews can achieve the industry restructuring that has been endlessly sought

ANSCO puffs its chest

Meat companies dividing into two groups making it hard to see a tidy industry restructure

10th Dec 13, 1:19pm

by Allan Barber

Meat companies dividing into two groups making it hard to see a tidy industry restructure

Trade deals coming thick and fast

Allan Barber sees steady and encouraging progress with our unilateral trade negotiations, in marked contrast to the bogged-down multilateral efforts

5th Dec 13, 3:17pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber sees steady and encouraging progress with our unilateral trade negotiations, in marked contrast to the bogged-down multilateral efforts

Moment of truth

Allan Barber examines the MIE tactic of trying to get its key people on to Alliance and SFF boards

27th Nov 13, 8:07am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber examines the MIE tactic of trying to get its key people on to Alliance and SFF boards

Lipstick doesn’t hide the ugly truth

Allan Barber says, despite the company's statement, the Silver Fern Farms 2013 result was 'awful'

18th Nov 13, 4:22pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says, despite the company's statement, the Silver Fern Farms 2013 result was 'awful'

Meat exports steady, but no silver bullet in sight

Allan Barber looks at the red meat sector export stats and wonders how the industry can ever achieve the Govt's export targets

15th Nov 13, 2:55pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber looks at the red meat sector export stats and wonders how the industry can ever achieve the Govt's export targets

'MIE must come out with strategy'

Allan Barber says co-op member farmers must take the initiative in reform and demonstrate that by making supply commitments

7th Nov 13, 4:46pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says co-op member farmers must take the initiative in reform and demonstrate that by making supply commitments

'Simple and inexplicable'

Allan Barber says MPI owes processors an explanation about Chinese green runner ban

31st Oct 13, 4:53pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says MPI owes processors an explanation about Chinese green runner ban

Will changing the guard change the direction

Allan Barber sees an industry trapped in its individual histories and unable to find the will to change given current incentives

30th Oct 13, 11:51am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber sees an industry trapped in its individual histories and unable to find the will to change given current incentives

MIA gives honest assessment of industry challenges

Allan Barber reviews the meat industry's year and whether farmer percetions of its structure and ability to generate value are justified

24th Oct 13, 9:44am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews the meat industry's year and whether farmer percetions of its structure and ability to generate value are justified

End of an era for southern cooperatives

Allan Barber says unless farmers commit to their company of choice, the meat industry’s volatility will be a continuing frustration no matter who leads them

15th Oct 13, 6:54pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says unless farmers commit to their company of choice, the meat industry’s volatility will be a continuing frustration no matter who leads them

Long term disruption

Opinion: Allan Barber says the way Fonterra handled its botulism scare will hurt New Zealand in major ways

11th Oct 13, 1:33pm

by Allan Barber

Opinion: Allan Barber says the way Fonterra handled its botulism scare will hurt New Zealand in major ways

Losses but few adjustments

Allan Barber sees Silver Fern Farms addressing capacity issues, but doesn't see progress on a meat industry restructure

3rd Oct 13, 6:07pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber sees Silver Fern Farms addressing capacity issues, but doesn't see progress on a meat industry restructure

Icelandic lessons

Allan Barber suggests our commodity sector can learn something from the Icelandic fishing industry

25th Sep 13, 6:26pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber suggests our commodity sector can learn something from the Icelandic fishing industry

Too big to be effective ?

Allan Barber says MPI must get balance right between regulatory function and growth; he calls for seriously senior leadership

20th Sep 13, 10:10am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says MPI must get balance right between regulatory function and growth; he calls for seriously senior leadership

Drought hammers stock numbers

Allan Barber says higher stock prices this year foreshadow major survivability problems for the processors

15th Sep 13, 1:25pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says higher stock prices this year foreshadow major survivability problems for the processors

Genetics – more than just a ram

Allan Barber reports on two genetics programmes critical for improving productivity. Will farmers adopt the results?

6th Sep 13, 10:31am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reports on two genetics programmes critical for improving productivity. Will farmers adopt the results?

The scare that wasn’t

Allan Barber says it wasn't company labs but Govt inspectors who got the Fonterra testing wrong

29th Aug 13, 7:59am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says it wasn't company labs but Govt inspectors who got the Fonterra testing wrong

Lower stock numbers cause balance sheet stress

Allan Barber says meat company shareholders now need to back their companies to make painful capacity cuts

21st Aug 13, 12:21pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says meat company shareholders now need to back their companies to make painful capacity cuts

'Be careful in China'

Allan Barber welcomes the market diversification but says it is important not to let China dominate our red meat sector

19th Aug 13, 9:54am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber welcomes the market diversification but says it is important not to let China dominate our red meat sector

Dangers of being a one trick pony

Allan Barber says that Fonterra's problem ought to make those calling for one mega meat company hesitate for a moment

6th Aug 13, 7:05pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says that Fonterra's problem ought to make those calling for one mega meat company hesitate for a moment

Debt pressures large meat companies to get solution

Allan Barber thinks the delays in announcing an industry-wide restructuring means the entrenched difficulties are not being overcome

29th Jul 13, 4:52pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber thinks the delays in announcing an industry-wide restructuring means the entrenched difficulties are not being overcome