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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

12 years 2 months

Latest articles

Covid-19 a major test for Government
March will be a crucial month in which it will become clear whether or not the spread of Covid-19 can be contained. Allan Barber says this one fact will determine whether the global economy can avoid recession and return to growth
12th Mar 20, 7:07pm
by Allan Barber
6
March will be a crucial month in which it will become clear whether or not the spread of Covid-19 can be contained. Allan Barber says this one fact will determine whether the global economy can avoid recession and return to growth
Brexit by no means a done deal
Allan Barber sees the UK moving into a period of uncertainty as it tries to set up new trade deals with a range of partners and 'friends' who try to take advantage of their weakened negotiating position
13th Feb 20, 10:51am
by Allan Barber
6
Allan Barber sees the UK moving into a period of uncertainty as it tries to set up new trade deals with a range of partners and 'friends' who try to take advantage of their weakened negotiating position
New decade, new dawn or more of the same
Allan Barber sees a new decade with an unprecedented set of challenges which some farmers may decide they can’t handle. Others will welcome the challenge and have a strong desire to prove they can thrive
29th Jan 20, 10:12am
by Allan Barber
6
Allan Barber sees a new decade with an unprecedented set of challenges which some farmers may decide they can’t handle. Others will welcome the challenge and have a strong desire to prove they can thrive
Drop in China beef prices not expected to last
Allan Barber reports the fall in schedule prices is a temporary transition as markets adjust to Chinese and American changes, and strong underlying demand will see them rise within months
15th Jan 20, 9:13am
by Allan Barber
3
Allan Barber reports the fall in schedule prices is a temporary transition as markets adjust to Chinese and American changes, and strong underlying demand will see them rise within months
Jury still out on Alliance transformation
Allan Barber assesses progress after four years of 'transformation' at the Alliance Group and finds only modest interim gains in a period of high market demand
11th Dec 19, 9:52am
by Allan Barber
1
Allan Barber assesses progress after four years of 'transformation' at the Alliance Group and finds only modest interim gains in a period of high market demand
Unique funding model supports domestic red meat promotion
Allan Barber reports the unique red meat industry marketing structure is well placed to face the perceived threat from alternative proteins. High demand and high prices are what producers are more likely to face
27th Nov 19, 11:50am
by Allan Barber
30
Allan Barber reports the unique red meat industry marketing structure is well placed to face the perceived threat from alternative proteins. High demand and high prices are what producers are more likely to face
Slow-burning red meat success story in North America
Allan Barber reports that from a successful long-term market building strategy, New Zealand lamb exports to the USA have now grown to exceed those to the UK
13th Nov 19, 9:42am
by Allan Barber
5
Allan Barber reports that from a successful long-term market building strategy, New Zealand lamb exports to the USA have now grown to exceed those to the UK
China – crouching tiger, hidden dragon
Allan Barber says the growing Chinese influence poses a strategic challenge for New Zealand meat exporters
31st Oct 19, 10:02am
by Allan Barber
2
Allan Barber says the growing Chinese influence poses a strategic challenge for New Zealand meat exporters
Farmer confidence bruised from several angles, but all is not lost
The rural sector has enough challenges to face without being kneecapped by a government intent on appealing only to its most vocal supporters, says Allan Barber
16th Oct 19, 10:46am
by Allan Barber
3
The rural sector has enough challenges to face without being kneecapped by a government intent on appealing only to its most vocal supporters, says Allan Barber
The devil’s in the detail of Essential Freshwater
Unintended consequence: Farmers who have invested in long term fresh water remediation feel thrown under the bus with grandfathering in the Essential Freshwater policies, and now those who didn't are in a easier position to comply
9th Oct 19, 10:13am
by Allan Barber
26
Unintended consequence: Farmers who have invested in long term fresh water remediation feel thrown under the bus with grandfathering in the Essential Freshwater policies, and now those who didn't are in a easier position to comply
Brexit impact to drag on and on
Allan Barber assesses the long and short term risk factors for New Zealand from Brexit for meat exporters who must get on with winning orders and satisfying customer demand in Europe. China is the relief valve
19th Sep 19, 8:51am
by Allan Barber
3
Allan Barber assesses the long and short term risk factors for New Zealand from Brexit for meat exporters who must get on with winning orders and satisfying customer demand in Europe. China is the relief valve
Social licence to operate just as important as methane reduction
Allan Barber says shifting consumer attitudes and preferences are probably a bigger threat to farming than political, unrealistic and unscientific government-imposed targets
7th Sep 19, 9:10am
by Allan Barber
4
Allan Barber says shifting consumer attitudes and preferences are probably a bigger threat to farming than political, unrealistic and unscientific government-imposed targets
'An incredible waste of land and resources'
Allan Barber says sustainable pastoral farming is being sacrificed for contradictory and unscientific policies that reward overseas investors with large tax benefits and jeopardise food production
23rd Aug 19, 8:47am
by Allan Barber
6
Allan Barber says sustainable pastoral farming is being sacrificed for contradictory and unscientific policies that reward overseas investors with large tax benefits and jeopardise food production
Plenty of challenges for the red meat sector
Allan Barber reports on the red meat sector's views of the future, and their place in the food chain - including being "really bold to get ahead of the game on climate and environmental change" - while staying science-based
5th Aug 19, 4:49pm
by Allan Barber
7
Allan Barber reports on the red meat sector's views of the future, and their place in the food chain - including being "really bold to get ahead of the game on climate and environmental change" - while staying science-based
Forestry not all Shane Jones has cracked it up to be
Allan Barber challenges Shane Jones to consider the unintended consequences of his headlong rush into forestry, as well as to disclose where all these logs or added value timber will be sold
1st Aug 19, 10:34am
by Allan Barber
22
Allan Barber challenges Shane Jones to consider the unintended consequences of his headlong rush into forestry, as well as to disclose where all these logs or added value timber will be sold
ANZCO confident no repeat of horror year
The key to preventing another loss at ANZCO is facing up to some hard choices, especially around overpaying for livestock, and keeping their unique distribution channels supplied with chilled and value-added product
9th Jul 19, 5:10pm
by Allan Barber
21
The key to preventing another loss at ANZCO is facing up to some hard choices, especially around overpaying for livestock, and keeping their unique distribution channels supplied with chilled and value-added product
Two reports, two different audiences
Both ANZ and KPMG issue reports on the rural sector. ANZ tries to capture the alchemy of performance and profitability. KPMG warns that farming needs to be reimagined to survive
25th Jun 19, 4:58pm
by Allan Barber
2
Both ANZ and KPMG issue reports on the rural sector. ANZ tries to capture the alchemy of performance and profitability. KPMG warns that farming needs to be reimagined to survive
More dairy beef unlikely to flood the market
Larger numbers of dairy beef cattle are being raised, chasing the growing China meat appetite. Many factors suggest that not only can markets take the higher volumes, competition will keep prices up
12th Jun 19, 9:15am
by Allan Barber
Larger numbers of dairy beef cattle are being raised, chasing the growing China meat appetite. Many factors suggest that not only can markets take the higher volumes, competition will keep prices up
Agricultural sector committed to meeting realistic targets
Farmers committed to scientific solutions that achieve the goals of the Zero Carbon Act, ignoring the sideline sledging by the politicised green lobbyists. Active strategic change is required in pasture and animal management
29th May 19, 9:16am
by Allan Barber
11
Farmers committed to scientific solutions that achieve the goals of the Zero Carbon Act, ignoring the sideline sledging by the politicised green lobbyists. Active strategic change is required in pasture and animal management
Cooperative model not ideal for all business types
Allan Barber points out supplier owned cooperatives are not the ideal structure for large scale commodity processing and international marketing because of the inherent tension between essential future investment and payments to shareholders
7th May 19, 12:18pm
by Allan Barber
8
Allan Barber points out supplier owned cooperatives are not the ideal structure for large scale commodity processing and international marketing because of the inherent tension between essential future investment and payments to shareholders
Taste Pure Nature launched in California
A laser focus on one key test market for an important new meat origin brand has the support of farmers and processors, targeting high income conscious foodies
17th Apr 19, 1:49pm
by Allan Barber
1
A laser focus on one key test market for an important new meat origin brand has the support of farmers and processors, targeting high income conscious foodies
Silver Fern Farms’ marginal profit shows benefit of new ownership
Strongly capitalised rural processing businesses prove to be much more resilient than cooperatives who struggle to balance supplier payouts with building retained earnings
1st Apr 19, 9:54am
by Allan Barber
3
Strongly capitalised rural processing businesses prove to be much more resilient than cooperatives who struggle to balance supplier payouts with building retained earnings
Farm Assurance Programme essential to high value exports
Almost half of all farms are in the Farm Assurance Programme, with early signs both farmers and processors are pleased with the rollout. The project is an essential tool in support of Taste Pure Nature
28th Feb 19, 10:04am
by Allan Barber
Almost half of all farms are in the Farm Assurance Programme, with early signs both farmers and processors are pleased with the rollout. The project is an essential tool in support of Taste Pure Nature
No need to panic over Brexit
Allan Barber surveys the practical Brexit risk for our meat trade and finds it is too soon to panic; we must keep talking to trading partners, hold our breath and wait
14th Feb 19, 9:49am
by Allan Barber
Allan Barber surveys the practical Brexit risk for our meat trade and finds it is too soon to panic; we must keep talking to trading partners, hold our breath and wait
Pace of change keeps getting quicker
Allan Barber says the answer to the faster pace of market change signals is to keep things simple, while keeping an open mind. Consumers may be 'king' but they are fickle and what they do is often different to what they say
30th Jan 19, 9:20am
by Allan Barber
3
Allan Barber says the answer to the faster pace of market change signals is to keep things simple, while keeping an open mind. Consumers may be 'king' but they are fickle and what they do is often different to what they say
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