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 3 months

Latest articles

American sheep farmers suffering even more than here

Allan Barber reviews what is going on in the heart of the US sheep farming industry and finds that things are way tougher there than here. Your view?

16th Jan 13, 9:16am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews what is going on in the heart of the US sheep farming industry and finds that things are way tougher there than here. Your view?

Outlook cloudy for 2013

Allan Barber reviews 2013 meat prospects, says neither farmers nor processors are making money from lamb, but in the south at least processors have the upper hand. Your view?

3rd Jan 13, 9:30am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews 2013 meat prospects, says neither farmers nor processors are making money from lamb, but in the south at least processors have the upper hand. Your view?

Debt is good - in some circumstances

Allan Barber respects the 'glass half full' approach of meat industry execs, but looks at recent customer demand trends and wonders how full it will be by season end. Your view?

13th Dec 12, 12:10pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber respects the 'glass half full' approach of meat industry execs, but looks at recent customer demand trends and wonders how full it will be by season end. Your view?

Meat industry’s high debt levels must concern banks

Allan Barber looks at the losses by big meat industry firms this year and assesses how their liabilities might look to their bankers

5th Dec 12, 10:10am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber looks at the losses by big meat industry firms this year and assesses how their liabilities might look to their bankers

Meat Workers Union corrected accounts present very different picture

Allan Barber succeeds in getting the NZMU to issue proper accounts. He reviews what they reveal

28th Nov 12, 11:54am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber succeeds in getting the NZMU to issue proper accounts. He reviews what they reveal

Landcorp a profitable publicly owned asset

With 119 farms Landcorp is the largest corporate farmer in the country and is publicly owned. It has had a 'solid' year. Allan Barber assesses its results

28th Nov 12, 9:30am

by Allan Barber

With 119 farms Landcorp is the largest corporate farmer in the country and is publicly owned. It has had a 'solid' year. Allan Barber assesses its results

Meat industry lacks leadership: MWU Cooke

Following a season of large losses, the meat processing industry is under fire from its workers for poor decision-making. Allan Barber assess the charge

21st Nov 12, 9:43am

by Allan Barber

Following a season of large losses, the meat processing industry is under fire from its workers for poor decision-making. Allan Barber assess the charge

Meat processor bullish despite $31 mln loss

Silver Fern Farms claims progress in 2012 despite a $62 million deterioration in profit - "poor financially, strategically progressive"

13th Nov 12, 3:59pm

by Allan Barber

Silver Fern Farms claims progress in 2012 despite a $62 million deterioration in profit - "poor financially, strategically progressive"

Alliance posts first operating loss for 20 years

Alliance loses almost $51 million in 2012 on Mataura partial closure, unsustainable procurement prices, and the high NZ$

12th Nov 12, 8:45am

by Allan Barber

Alliance loses almost $51 million in 2012 on Mataura partial closure, unsustainable procurement prices, and the high NZ$

France in a mess

Allan Barber laments the decline and decline of his favourite European country, and worried that that they are not taking their situation seriously

6th Nov 12, 7:32pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber laments the decline and decline of his favourite European country, and worried that that they are not taking their situation seriously

TAF a reality at last

Fonterra's Trading Among Farmers scheme to remove redemption risk established, springboard for new capital raising

6th Nov 12, 9:41am

by Allan Barber

Fonterra's Trading Among Farmers scheme to remove redemption risk established, springboard for new capital raising

'It won't happen this year': Cooper

After a 'torrid 2011-12' the meat industry is positive about prospects for the upcoming year. Your view?

31st Oct 12, 10:04am

by Allan Barber

After a 'torrid 2011-12' the meat industry is positive about prospects for the upcoming year. Your view?

Dairy farm profitability lower than sheep and beef units

MPI’s Farm Monitoring Report forecasts income drops for dairy and sheep and beef

23rd Oct 12, 5:38pm

by Allan Barber

MPI’s Farm Monitoring Report forecasts income drops for dairy and sheep and beef

A done deal

Allan Barber reviews the final chapter in the Crafar Farms saga now that Shanghai Pengxin has succeeded. He looks at the positives. Your view?

22nd Oct 12, 10:17am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews the final chapter in the Crafar Farms saga now that Shanghai Pengxin has succeeded. He looks at the positives. Your view?

Strategy 2030

Allan Barber previews MPI's role in helping get agriculture to deliver its share in the govt's Business Growth Agenda

15th Oct 12, 2:44pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber previews MPI's role in helping get agriculture to deliver its share in the govt's Business Growth Agenda

Messy results from messy season

Allan Barber previews processor results, assessing competition for the declining lamb supply and changing demand. Who has the right strategy?

8th Oct 12, 9:43am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber previews processor results, assessing competition for the declining lamb supply and changing demand. Who has the right strategy?

Intervention a non-starter

Allan Barber surveys the state of the South Island sheep processing industry following the Mataura shutdown decision

5th Oct 12, 1:13pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber surveys the state of the South Island sheep processing industry following the Mataura shutdown decision

Downsizing starts in Southland

Alliance to close its sheep and lamb processing operations at Mataura, citing lower stock numbers

28th Sep 12, 3:14pm

by Allan Barber

Alliance to close its sheep and lamb processing operations at Mataura, citing lower stock numbers

Creative structure avoids disclosure

Allan Barber has been trying to understand the Meat Workers union structure by following the members' money. Secrecy may be lifting soon. Your view?

26th Sep 12, 10:16am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber has been trying to understand the Meat Workers union structure by following the members' money. Secrecy may be lifting soon. Your view?

Cost-sharing blank cheques

Allan Barber wonders why farmers should pay for the control and mitigation response if it is tourists and slack border control that cause biosecurity disasters. Your view?

17th Sep 12, 3:15pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber wonders why farmers should pay for the control and mitigation response if it is tourists and slack border control that cause biosecurity disasters. Your view?

Embedding quality assurance

Allan Barber notes that meat inspection is no longer exclusively provided by SOE AsureQuality, a change that took 20 years plus to make

9th Sep 12, 6:00pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber notes that meat inspection is no longer exclusively provided by SOE AsureQuality, a change that took 20 years plus to make

Boot Camp focuses on what consumers want

Agribusiness leaders concentrate on understanding why consumers buy their product, aiming to lift rural exports to 40% of GDP

3rd Sep 12, 9:35am

by Allan Barber

Agribusiness leaders concentrate on understanding why consumers buy their product, aiming to lift rural exports to 40% of GDP

The Left's 'Xenophobic ignorance'

Allan Barber wonders how rural exports could grow to meet official targets if Labour backs the Greens anti-foreigner investment policies. Your view?

30th Aug 12, 9:12am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber wonders how rural exports could grow to meet official targets if Labour backs the Greens anti-foreigner investment policies. Your view?

Basmati rice a fascinating commodity comparison

Allan Barber looks at a rice variety that ticks all the right boxes - except the local duopoly marketing it are struggling

27th Aug 12, 11:51am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber looks at a rice variety that ticks all the right boxes - except the local duopoly marketing it are struggling

Ag export goals a big stretch

Allan Barber looks at the implications for agribusiness from the Business Growth Agenda. You agree?

17th Aug 12, 8:20am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber looks at the implications for agribusiness from the Business Growth Agenda. You agree?