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.

Early egg count results indicate a relatively low wheat bulb fly risk
Early egg count results indicate a relatively low wheat bulb fly risk

Initial egg count results from an autumn wheat bulb fly (WBF) survey suggest it is likely to be another relatively...

Vets welcome bill’s recognition of animal health and welfare as public goods
Vets welcome bill’s recognition of animal health and welfare as public goods

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed Defra’s announcement that animal health and welfare will be considered as ‘public goods’...

Holstein UK launches DNA bank to boost breed’s authenticity
Holstein UK launches DNA bank to boost breed’s authenticity

A brand new initiative is set to revolutionise Holstein and British Friesian breeds by providing a global standard in animal...

Bill ‘fails to recognise farmers as food producers first and foremost’
Bill ‘fails to recognise farmers as food producers first and foremost’

Critics have said the Government’s new agriculture legislation has failed to recognise farmers for their main responsibility – producing the...

140 MPs show support for farming on Back British Farming Day
140 MPs show support for farming on Back British Farming Day

140 politicians showed their support for the British farming industry today by wearing a Back British Farming wheat-pin badge in...

Dairy Day: Could a checklist approach improve your youngstock health?
Dairy Day: Could a checklist approach improve your youngstock health?

Score-based audits of youngstock rearing systems could help pinpoint calf husbandry weaknesses and identify opportunities to improve the health and...

National Farmers’ Union takes food report to Westminster
National Farmers’ Union takes food report to Westminster

The National Farmers’ Union has today launched a food report, ‘UK: A Nation United by Food’, which will be sent...

Government’s plans for agriculture ‘lack balance’
Government’s plans for agriculture ‘lack balance’

The Government’s new Agriculture Bill has been criticised as “lacking balance” by an organisation representing tenant farmers. Tenant Farmers Association...

Japan suspends pork exports as Classical Swine Fever outbreak is confirmed
Japan suspends pork exports as Classical Swine Fever outbreak is confirmed

Japanese officials have suspended all pork exports from the country following news of a Classical Swine Fever (CSF) outbreak at...

New programme aims to cut costs and increase profits
New programme aims to cut costs and increase profits

Over 70 farmers and industry representatives attended the recent launch of the first Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Strategic...

New tool developed to help dairy farmers pinpoint mastitis causes
New tool developed to help dairy farmers pinpoint mastitis causes

A new tool to help dairy farmers make better decisions about mastitis management in their herds has been launched today,...

Defra was ‘not permitted’ to consult industry over Brexit vet shortage
Defra was ‘not permitted’ to consult industry over Brexit vet shortage

A comprehensive report claims that Defra was prevented from consulting veterinary professionals over a potential vet shortage post-Brexit by the...

Government publishes landmark Agriculture Bill…but what does it mean for farms?
Government publishes landmark Agriculture Bill…but what does it mean for farms?

Michael Gove has set out the Government’s major post-Brexit agriculture policy to invest in the environment and take back control...

P&O to stop shipping Europe-bound calves ‘with immediate effect’
P&O to stop shipping Europe-bound calves ‘with immediate effect’

Ferry company P&O has said it will no longer transport Scottish calves destined for Europe following a documentary broadcast last...

Dark Side of Dairy: Even the calves in the market were not Scottish calves
Dark Side of Dairy: Even the calves in the market were not Scottish calves

Scotland’s farming union is fighting allegations made in a half hour long BBC documentary titled ‘The Dark Side of Dairy’...

Strutt & Parker, one of the UK’s largest farm businesses for sale for £200 million
Strutt & Parker, one of the UK’s largest farm businesses for sale for £200 million

One of the UK’s largest farm companies, Strutt & Parker (Farms) Ltd, has hit the market with a hefty £200...

‘Agriculture Bill must provide comprehensive strategy for UK agriculture’
‘Agriculture Bill must provide comprehensive strategy for UK agriculture’

The Tenant Farmers’ Association (TFA) has set out what it believes should be contained within the much-anticipated Agriculture Bill, which...

Reprimand and warning issued to Essex vet convicted of harassment
Reprimand and warning issued to Essex vet convicted of harassment

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Disciplinary Committee has issued a reprimand and a warning to an Essex vet...