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

Trade benefits need selling to New Zealanders

Even though we gain so much from open international trade, it is ironic some here are blind to these advantages. Allan Barber thinks the benefits should be celebrated here more

9th Oct 16, 5:45pm

by Allan Barber

Even though we gain so much from open international trade, it is ironic some here are blind to these advantages. Allan Barber thinks the benefits should be celebrated here more

Russian meat industry bankruptcies predicted

Allan Barber notes that the Russia’s meat industry could face a tsunami of bankruptcies across its poultry and red meat processing sectors within the next two years

27th Aug 16, 6:02am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber notes that the Russia’s meat industry could face a tsunami of bankruptcies across its poultry and red meat processing sectors within the next two years

Market development a major challenge for meat industry

Farmers tell B+LNZ to spend its limited budget less on 'promotion', more on market intelligence, development of the NZ story, new markets and market segmentation, reports Allan Barber

17th Aug 16, 11:29am

by Allan Barber

Farmers tell B+LNZ to spend its limited budget less on 'promotion', more on market intelligence, development of the NZ story, new markets and market segmentation, reports Allan Barber

Trade access landscape increasingly crowded

Allan Barber says the local beef exporters may need to grid themselves for some major new competition aimed squarely at our existing markets, just when some of them thought the outlook was brightening

13th Aug 16, 7:56am

by Allan Barber

Silver Fern Farms shareholders vote conclusively in favour

Farmer shareholders rejump one hurdle for a second time. Now the OIO hurdle remains. Then SFF management will need to show the benefits

12th Aug 16, 4:38pm

by Allan Barber

Farmer shareholders rejump one hurdle for a second time. Now the OIO hurdle remains. Then SFF management will need to show the benefits

Meat industry encouraged to front global head winds

Allan Barber reports the annual red meat sector gathering found little evidence of a disheartened industry, plenty who are optimistic, chasing ways to improve performance across the whole industry chain

3rd Aug 16, 9:46am

by Allan Barber

Profit warning makes Silver Fern Farms’ deal more critical

Allan Barber accuses those calling for a new Silver Fern Farms vote on the Shanghai Mailing merger are risking the viability of the whole company just as its circumstances turn down

24th Jul 16, 1:56pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber accuses those calling for a new Silver Fern Farms vote on the Shanghai Mailing merger are risking the viability of the whole company just as its circumstances turn down

Next season looking very uncertain

Allan Barber says next season will be murky for farmers, processors, or exporters as the risks pile up even though in the longer term, the fundamentals are positive

21st Jul 16, 11:44am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says next season will be murky for farmers, processors, or exporters as the risks pile up even though in the longer term, the fundamentals are positive

Complicated, but we are in good shape

Allan Barber says the UK referendum opens a can of worms, and it opens some opportunities

7th Jul 16, 10:20pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber says the UK referendum opens a can of worms, and it opens some opportunities

Dragging on

Silver Fern Farms announces contract extension and new special meeting date. Allan Barber reviews where this torturous process is at

2nd Jul 16, 5:59pm

by Allan Barber

Silver Fern Farms announces contract extension and new special meeting date. Allan Barber reviews where this torturous process is at

Latest result suggests ANZCO floundering

Allan Barber assesses ANZCO Foods latest financial results and finds a company that 'appears to be in something of a rut'

28th Jun 16, 12:42pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber assesses ANZCO Foods latest financial results and finds a company that 'appears to be in something of a rut'

Irish approach may be better than New Zealand’s

Allan Barber likes the Irish inclusive approach to industry strategy, which includes "impressive commercial and intellectual grunt", over MPI's silo approach

25th Jun 16, 5:43pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber likes the Irish inclusive approach to industry strategy, which includes "impressive commercial and intellectual grunt", over MPI's silo approach

Changing world will suit our red meat sector

Allan Barber reviews ANZ's assessment of the "ample opportunities" in the wider Asian markets for products from our primary sectors and finds plenty of reasons to be positive

22nd Jun 16, 12:19pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber reviews ANZ's assessment of the "ample opportunities" in the wider Asian markets for products from our primary sectors and finds plenty of reasons to be positive

Satisfying protein demand: which end do we choose?

Part three of Allan Barber's perspective of the New Zealand meat industry. The need to find points of difference that motivate consumers will become the key to future properity

17th Jun 16, 9:47am

by Allan Barber

Part three of Allan Barber's perspective of the New Zealand meat industry. The need to find points of difference that motivate consumers will become the key to future properity

Silver Fern Farms deal not yet done

Allan Barber sees 80 shareholders risking 'catastrophe' at Silver Fern Farms to retain control, and restrain the industry heavyweight from its development plans

9th Jun 16, 5:02am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber sees 80 shareholders risking 'catastrophe' at Silver Fern Farms to retain control, and restrain the industry heavyweight from its development plans

Wanting price gains without investment

Part two of Allan Barber's perspective of the New Zealand meat industry. He finds a more productive industry, but one still very focused on itself rather than consumer needs

8th Jun 16, 10:08am

by Allan Barber

Part two of Allan Barber's perspective of the New Zealand meat industry. He finds a more productive industry, but one still very focused on itself rather than consumer needs

Making ends meat

Allan Barber looks at the past, present and future of the meat industry

30th May 16, 2:25pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber looks at the past, present and future of the meat industry

Fonterra forecast finally catches up with market reality

Allan Barber wonders if Fonterra has actually captured the 'value' and 'velocity' gains from its new focus on value extraction

27th May 16, 1:35pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber wonders if Fonterra has actually captured the 'value' and 'velocity' gains from its new focus on value extraction

Shareholders want answers

Allan Barber investigates the issues being raised by disgruntled shareholders of Silver Fern Farms over the Shanghai Maling deal

25th May 16, 8:50am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber investigates the issues being raised by disgruntled shareholders of Silver Fern Farms over the Shanghai Maling deal

Changes at top of both meat bodies

Allan Barber talks to John Loughlin and Sam McIvor about the direction each plans to take, and how they will manage their respective organisations

11th May 16, 12:02pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber talks to John Loughlin and Sam McIvor about the direction each plans to take, and how they will manage their respective organisations

Staggering EU subsidy stuff up

Inefficient farmers unhappy with performance of inefficient subsidy payers. How invasive Government distorts rural fundamentals

10th May 16, 12:28pm

by Allan Barber

Inefficient farmers unhappy with performance of inefficient subsidy payers. How invasive Government distorts rural fundamentals

Frustrating waste of time and money, but it’s the price of democracy

Allan Barber asseses what's at stake for Silver Fern Farms over the Shrimpton/Gallagher 'requisition'

3rd May 16, 2:47pm

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber asseses what's at stake for Silver Fern Farms over the Shrimpton/Gallagher 'requisition'

Trade negotiations like water dripping on a stone

In a world increasingly sceptical about trade agreements and more focused on short term patch-protection, it will be our food safety systems that will keep access open for our food exports

28th Apr 16, 2:21pm

by Allan Barber

In a world increasingly sceptical about trade agreements and more focused on short term patch-protection, it will be our food safety systems that will keep access open for our food exports

Exports down despite lower dollar and outlook not great

Lower prices, lower processing volumes, and lower profitability casts a pall over the meat export situation in the second half of 2016

20th Apr 16, 8:55am

by Allan Barber

Lower prices, lower processing volumes, and lower profitability casts a pall over the meat export situation in the second half of 2016

RIP MIE

Allan Barber argues we need to be much more savvy with how we restructure our meat industry enterprises. Offshore investment that links us to large consumer markets is crucial to prosper

13th Apr 16, 11:39am

by Allan Barber

Allan Barber argues we need to be much more savvy with how we restructure our meat industry enterprises. Offshore investment that links us to large consumer markets is crucial to prosper