Allan Barber | interest.co.nz

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

13 years 3 months

Latest articles

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?

Shanghai Pengxin now a NZ dairy farmer

Allan Barber reviews the Crafar dairy farm sale and suggests some improvements to the OIA criteria. Your view?

9th Aug 12, 5:00pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews the Crafar dairy farm sale and suggests some improvements to the OIA criteria. Your view?

1 million extra lambs expected this season

Allan Barber reviews the latest annual stock survey and finds encouraging trends following a very good growing season. Your view?

7th Aug 12, 4:40pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews the latest annual stock survey and finds encouraging trends following a very good growing season. Your view?

Can we triple agri-foods turnover?

Allan Barber reviews the Riddet Institute report but has a nagging suspicion it will not result in significant shifts in behaviour. Your view?

1st Aug 12, 4:10pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews the Riddet Institute report but has a nagging suspicion it will not result in significant shifts in behaviour. Your view?

Meat price trends

Allan Barber says the meat price outlook is still positive in spite of short term wobbles. Your view?

30th Jul 12, 5:36pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says the meat price outlook is still positive in spite of short term wobbles. Your view?

Biofuels and energy production dominate Europe’s landscape

Traveller's notes: Allan Barber is amazed at how unsustainable European agriculture is and how unrealistic their land use choices have become

26th Jul 12, 12:16pm

by Allan Barber

Traveller's notes: Allan Barber is amazed at how unsustainable European agriculture is and how unrealistic their land use choices have become

Too much meat processing capacity

Suddenly, the season end of meat processing is imminent especially in the North Island, much earlier this year. Allan Barber explains why

11th Jun 12, 5:04pm

by Allan Barber

Suddenly, the season end of meat processing is imminent especially in the North Island, much earlier this year. Allan Barber explains why