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.

Old scheme rejections not to be reviewed as part of scheme appeal reforms
Old scheme rejections not to be reviewed as part of scheme appeal reforms

Decisions on area-based schemes made under previous agriculture ministers will not be reviewed under plans to reform the appeal process,...

Poots seeking to get alternative climate change bill tabled since March
Poots seeking to get alternative climate change bill tabled since March

Northern Ireland Agriculture and Environment Minister Edwin Poots has claimed he has been trying to get his alternative climate change...

Devenish reports £5.3 million losses in 2020
Devenish reports £5.3 million losses in 2020

A major fire at Devenish's Belfast manufacturing plant, as well as the effects of Brexit and Covid-19, have caused the...

McAleer: NI needs ‘carbon calculator’ to help farms prepare for net-zero
McAleer: NI needs ‘carbon calculator’ to help farms prepare for net-zero

Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer has called on the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to develop an...

Farm trials to investigate how seaweed could lower livestock emissions
Farm trials to investigate how seaweed could lower livestock emissions

Dulse (or seaweed for the uninitiated) has long been a delicacy enjoyed in Ireland. The tradition can be traced back...

Two new Beef Technology Demonstration Farms unveiled for NI
Two new Beef Technology Demonstration Farms unveiled for NI

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Entreprise (CAFRE) has unveiled Northern Ireland's two newest Beef Technology Demonstration Farms. John...

Abolishing Agricultural Wages Board to benefit industry by £1.2 million
Abolishing Agricultural Wages Board to benefit industry by £1.2 million

Abolishing the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) in Northern Ireland could have net benefits of up to £1.2 million over the...

Declassified files: Have any lessons been learned from the ’90s ‘bread wars’?
Declassified files: Have any lessons been learned from the ’90s ‘bread wars’?

Cunning Irish bakers outwitted the authorities in the north, leaving officials powerless to protect domestic suppliers in so-called ‘bread wars’,...

NI’s new Beacon Farm Network begins carbon footprint benchmarking
NI’s new Beacon Farm Network begins carbon footprint benchmarking

The newly-established 'Beacon Farm' research network has begun work establishing a benchmark for carbon sequestration in Northern Ireland. Government policy...

GrassCheck: NI grass growth down 32% for year so far
GrassCheck: NI grass growth down 32% for year so far

Grass growth in Northern Ireland for the season so far is down almost a third compared to the 10-year average....

Poots: ‘The Republic should have been our friend’ in Brexit talks
Poots: ‘The Republic should have been our friend’ in Brexit talks

Northern Ireland (NI) Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has hit out at the Irish Government, accusing it of failing to support...

Farm succession: Have something in mind to ‘step back’ into
Farm succession: Have something in mind to ‘step back’ into

Stepping back from a farm is one of the most difficult things you can do but there are ways to...

Farm succession: ‘A barn conversion might be cheaper… but divorce is very expensive too’
Farm succession: ‘A barn conversion might be cheaper… but divorce is very expensive too’

Farming families have been warned to avoid creating a "self-fulfilling prophecy" for divorce. Speaking at a Women in Dairy event...

£2 million Covid-19 support scheme announced for potato growers
£2 million Covid-19 support scheme announced for potato growers

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has announced further information on the £2 million financial support package for potato growers....

DAERA granted additional £12.4 million of Covid support money
DAERA granted additional £12.4 million of Covid support money

Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has been granted a further £12.4 million to fund its...

NI study suggests slurry separation hubs could offer solution to nutrient surplus
NI study suggests slurry separation hubs could offer solution to nutrient surplus

A study examining the potential of slurry separation technology has suggested the establishment of processing hubs in Northern Ireland could...

Angus competition encourages schoolgirls to take up part-time farm work
Angus competition encourages schoolgirls to take up part-time farm work

Two teenagers named overall winners of this year's ABP Angus Youth Challenge say the competition has inspired them to start...

NI milk price round-up: Top base price for April hits 29.8p/L
NI milk price round-up: Top base price for April hits 29.8p/L

Northern Ireland milk prices are holding strong across the board, with all of the big players announcing holds or price...