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.

Round 2 of McDonald’s £500,000 British dairy grants now open
Round 2 of McDonald’s £500,000 British dairy grants now open

UK Arla farmers have just a few days remaining to apply for up to £10,000 in the second round of...

Dunn: Hammond must provide better fiscal framework for farm tenancies
Dunn: Hammond must provide better fiscal framework for farm tenancies

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) is urging the Chancellor of the Exchequer to consider including tax reforms which would help...

Welsh warn no trade deal would have ‘stark implications’ for red meat sector
Welsh warn no trade deal would have ‘stark implications’ for red meat sector

The challenges of Brexit for Wales’s iconic red meat industry were laid out in clear terms as Hybu Cig Cymru...

Vaccine shows promise against costly poultry disease
Vaccine shows promise against costly poultry disease

A new vaccine strategy could offer protection to millions of chickens threatened by a serious respiratory disease, research shows. Infectious...

Defra urged to act now over Brexit challenges for NI farming
Defra urged to act now over Brexit challenges for NI farming

A Westminster report examining the prospects of Northern Ireland farming post-Brexit warns Defra has not done enough given the lack...

SIAL: ‘Strong demand’ from importers for Scotch meat
SIAL: ‘Strong demand’ from importers for Scotch meat

The opening days of SIAL in Paris, one of the world’s largest food trade fairs, have seen a very encouraging...

South Korean government officials learn from Wiltshire’s rural development
South Korean government officials learn from Wiltshire’s rural development

A delegation of 23 officials from South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs visited Wiltshire agri-business support projects...

Welsh Lamb roadshow delivers sales boost
Welsh Lamb roadshow delivers sales boost

A summer drive to promote PGI Welsh Lamb directly to consumers at large stores across England and Wales has led...

Could the ration of the future see your cows chow down…on insects?
Could the ration of the future see your cows chow down…on insects?

We’ve all heard claims insects could be on the menu in the future – but could crawlies could make it...

Fram Farmers’ cooperative appoints strategic partnerships manager
Fram Farmers’ cooperative appoints strategic partnerships manager

Fram Farmers, an innovative leader in the farmer-owned cooperative sector, has appointed Gordon Cummings as strategic partnerships manager. With over...

Bank urges NI farmers to review the viability with 30% less support
Bank urges NI farmers to review the viability with 30% less support

Northern Ireland’s farmers need devolved government back in place and lobbying on their behalf to make sure the sector does...

‘Britain’s most-diseased man’ to address BVA congress
‘Britain’s most-diseased man’ to address BVA congress

‘Britain’s most-diseased man’, The One Show wildlife presenter Mike Dilger, has been confirmed as keynote speaker for this year’s BVA...

AHDB appoints new potato knowledge exchange manager
AHDB appoints new potato knowledge exchange manager

Bill Watts has joined AHDB as the arable knowledge exchange manager (potatoes) for the West Midlands, South West and Wales....

Second Alistair Sloss Memorial Tractor Run to take place tomorrow
Second Alistair Sloss Memorial Tractor Run to take place tomorrow

A Co. Tyrone family who lost their father in a slurry accident two years ago are preparing to host the second...

SRUC launches ‘crash course’ in animal breeding science
SRUC launches ‘crash course’ in animal breeding science

World-leading livestock scientists will next month deliver a ‘crash course’ in the latest animal breeding technologies at SRUC. Delivered by...

‘Personally devastating’: Farmer at centre of BSE outbreak speaks out
‘Personally devastating’: Farmer at centre of BSE outbreak speaks out

The Aberdeenshire farmer behind the herd where BSE was detected yesterday has spoken of his heartbreak following news the disease...

Shortages, delays and lower standards likely in no-deal Brexit, vets warn
Shortages, delays and lower standards likely in no-deal Brexit, vets warn

British Veterinary Association (BVA) president Simon Doherty has warned of the significant risks a ‘no-deal’ Brexit could bring to the...

All-Ireland maps show scale of work needed to tackle NI’s BVD problems
All-Ireland maps show scale of work needed to tackle NI’s BVD problems

BVD data from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland collated for the first time shows the stark contrast in...