Rachel Martin

Rachel Martin Profile Picture

Rachel Martin specialises in writing about agri-business, food production and dairying. Previously she worked as a business reporter at one of Northern Ireland’s biggest daily newspapers. In 2017, she was named one of IFAJ's 10 Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism. She is currently secretary of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists in Northern Ireland. When she’s not writing, Rachel can usually be found in the milking parlour at home in Co. Down with her family's 130 cows.

Next Generation Shepherds rise to Covid-adapted skills competition
Next Generation Shepherds rise to Covid-adapted skills competition

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has commended the finalists of its Next Generation Shepherd competition for rising to the challenge...

Calls for ‘urgent action’ to deter rural fly-tippers
Calls for ‘urgent action’ to deter rural fly-tippers

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for urgent action to tackle fly-tipping, as new figures from the Environment Agency...

UFU threatens to end cooperation with department over ‘TB inaction’
UFU threatens to end cooperation with department over ‘TB inaction’

Tensions were said to have "run very high" during a meeting this week between the chief vet Ulster Farmers’ Union...

Reduction in cross-compliance inspections in NI for 2021
Reduction in cross-compliance inspections in NI for 2021

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has announced that DAERA officials will carry out a reduced number of cross-compliance inspections...

CCC chairman tells Agriculture Committee net-zero by 2050 is ‘not possible’ for NI
CCC chairman tells Agriculture Committee net-zero by 2050 is ‘not possible’ for NI

The chairman of the UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC) has told Northern Ireland politicians he is "not prepared" to tell...

Greenhouse gas emissions from NI agriculture up 1%
Greenhouse gas emissions from NI agriculture up 1%

Greenhouse gas emissions from Northern Irish agriculture have increased by 1% over the last recorded year, according to the latest...

UK-Australia deal: Unclear whether measures to safeguard farming go far enough
UK-Australia deal: Unclear whether measures to safeguard farming go far enough

It's not clear whether safeguards to protect local farming from lower-cost imported produce go far enough as the UK announces...

13 teenagers take calves home to rear in ABP’s agri-skills contest
13 teenagers take calves home to rear in ABP’s agri-skills contest

13 teenagers representing four Northern Ireland schools have been presented with a mini-herd of Angus-cross calves to rear. It's part...

Department unlikely to take direct action over ILT outbreaks
Department unlikely to take direct action over ILT outbreaks

The department is unlikely to take direct action, such as introducing culls or flocks restrictions, over a recent spate of...

Agriculture Committee: ‘Coded’ Crimestoppers report prompted ports decision
Agriculture Committee: ‘Coded’ Crimestoppers report prompted ports decision

A 'coded report' regarding the safety of port staff was made to Crimestoppers Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has...

£40 million UK animal vaccine centre to be established at Pirbright
£40 million UK animal vaccine centre to be established at Pirbright

A new £40 million centre at Pirbright to develop vaccines for zoonotic diseases that spread from animals to humans is...

Rademon Estate Distillery ‘gins’ new Asda deal
Rademon Estate Distillery ‘gins’ new Asda deal

Rademon Estate Distillery has secured a contract with Asda to supply two new gin products to the retailer’s stores across...

Fertiliser sales up more than 20% in NI in 2020
Fertiliser sales up more than 20% in NI in 2020

Fertiliser deliveries have increased again at the start of 2021 in Northern Ireland, according to the latest official fertiliser statistics....

Poots to submit application for NI’s first Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project 
Poots to submit application for NI’s first Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy project 

Northern Ireland could have its first-ever forestry project dedicated to the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) initiative at the Glenarm Estate,...

NI peatland strategy proposes payments for bog restoration
NI peatland strategy proposes payments for bog restoration

Future land management schemes could pay landowners to maintain peatland through low-impact farming methods. The Northern Ireland Peatland Strategy 2021-2040...

Poots launches Peatland Strategy consultation
Poots launches Peatland Strategy consultation

Northern Ireland Environment Minister, Edwin Poots, has launched a public consultation on a new 20-year plan to restore the region's...

Royalty dispute sees AFBI cease to pay Corporation Tax
Royalty dispute sees AFBI cease to pay Corporation Tax

Royalty payments made to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) have slumped to the degree that the institute no longer...

£19 million allocated for flood protection projects in NI
£19 million allocated for flood protection projects in NI

Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon has allocated £19 million for flood protection projects across the North in her 2021/22...