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.

What impact will the hot summer have had on your cows’ feet?
What impact will the hot summer have had on your cows’ feet?

The hot, dry weather of the summer and lower than normal feed quality have the potential to cause greater lameness...

Farmers urged to take care on World Mental Health Day
Farmers urged to take care on World Mental Health Day

Farmers across the UK have been reminded to speak to those around them and to avoid bottling up their feelings...

2 farmers wanted to help shape the future of the UK’s sheep industry
2 farmers wanted to help shape the future of the UK’s sheep industry

Two farmer representatives from England and one from Wales are sought for SHAWG, a sheep industry group, to help shape the...

2018 one of the lowest risk years for wheat bulb fly recorded
2018 one of the lowest risk years for wheat bulb fly recorded

This year has been one of the lowest-risk years for wheat bulb fly since monitoring began, according to the final...

New guide launched to help growers test for PCN
New guide launched to help growers test for PCN

AHDB Potatoes has launched a new guide to help growers test for Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) – a pest that...

Yorkshire ag college launches £650,000 precision farming training project
Yorkshire ag college launches £650,000 precision farming training project

A Yorkshire agricultural college has launched a £650,000 project to train a generation of tech-savvy precision farming pioneers. Bishop Burton College,...

Limousin Society to double number of genetic evaluations
Limousin Society to double number of genetic evaluations

The British Limousin Cattle Society has announced it will double the number of genetic evaluations it carries out each year...

Difficult year sees major shifts in Scottish farming
Difficult year sees major shifts in Scottish farming

Poor weather affected the output of Scottish agriculture over the past year. According to the latest official data, sheep and...

Brexit ‘perfect time’ for Government to address long-standing farm tenancy issues
Brexit ‘perfect time’ for Government to address long-standing farm tenancy issues

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) is calling for the Government to use Brexit as the “perfect time” to bring forward...

British organic sector calls for clearer Brexit contingency measures
British organic sector calls for clearer Brexit contingency measures

The Organic Trade Board (OTB) and the United Kingdom Organic Certifiers Group (UKOCG) are calling for a clear contingency plan...

£3.6 million TB Excellence Centre to open in Wales
£3.6 million TB Excellence Centre to open in Wales

A new £3.6 million Centre of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis for Wales will open at Aberystwyth University later this year,...

Could working on your soil health reduce your fertiliser wastage?
Could working on your soil health reduce your fertiliser wastage?

With 40% of fertiliser lost to leaching and volatilisation, growers are being urged to improve soil health to increase nutrient...

Young Farmers launch week-long celebration of all things YFC
Young Farmers launch week-long celebration of all things YFC

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) has today started its week-long celebration of all things Young Farmers. The...

Welsh farmers to be paid £1,000 to complete benchmarking
Welsh farmers to be paid £1,000 to complete benchmarking

A new £2.15 million benchmarking initiative to help beef and sheep farmers identify improvements to their businesses and prepare for...

Why ‘Antibiotic-free’ labelling may actually be harming the industry
Why ‘Antibiotic-free’ labelling may actually be harming the industry

Labelling products as “Antibiotic-free” has the potential to mislead the consumer by implying that meat or milk not marketed as...

Welsh decarbonisation proposals criticised over lack of focus on impacts
Welsh decarbonisation proposals criticised over lack of focus on impacts

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru has warned that the Welsh Government’s greenhouse gas emissions consultation is likely to have been...

Auction report: Combines and tractors in the mix at dispersal sale
Auction report: Combines and tractors in the mix at dispersal sale

An on-site auction was held at Bulldog Bridge Farm, Littleport, Cambridgeshire, on September 27. The sale was notable for an...

Ag students’ vineyard celebrates record harvest
Ag students’ vineyard celebrates record harvest

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) vineyard at Down Ampney has seen a record year with the largest amount of grapes...