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.

Dale Farm announces August milk price
Dale Farm announces August milk price

Northern Ireland’s largest milk processor, Dale Farm, has announced its August milk price. Board members today announced they would hold...

Dairy Day: Holstein UK unveils ‘Virtual Cow’ updates…but what’s new?
Dairy Day: Holstein UK unveils ‘Virtual Cow’ updates…but what’s new?

Holstein UK has announced it will re-launch its updated Virtual Cow breeding model at this year’s UK Dairy Day. The innovative...

Quality Meat Scotland appoints new chairman
Quality Meat Scotland appoints new chairman

Borders farmer Kate Rowell has been appointed by Scottish ministers as the new chairman of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). Mrs....

Overseas-based vet suspended from register over fake email
Overseas-based vet suspended from register over fake email

The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has decided to suspend an overseas-based vet for a...

NFU supports Red Tractor bid to become flagship for British farming
NFU supports Red Tractor bid to become flagship for British farming

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is supporting Red Tractor’s bid to become the UK’s flagship brand for high-standard British food...

Red Tractor to increase unannounced inspections in major overhaul
Red Tractor to increase unannounced inspections in major overhaul

Red Tractor has today announced its intent to “substantially increase” the breadth of its food chain assurance regime in a...

Farm tenants must consider rent review ‘safety valve’
Farm tenants must consider rent review ‘safety valve’

Tenant farmers have been urged to take urgent advice about serving rent review notices to provide a “safety valve” in...

22,000 shoppers to get a taste of Scotch Lamb as part of roadshow
22,000 shoppers to get a taste of Scotch Lamb as part of roadshow

Sheep farmers from across Scotland will be flocking to their local supermarkets to encourage families to put Scotch Lamb firmly...

Farmers and growers encouraged to support Home Office rural crime survey
Farmers and growers encouraged to support Home Office rural crime survey

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is encouraging farmers and growers to take part in the Government’s Commercial Victimisation Survey to...

Are you set for spring? QMS to host 5 advice meetings
Are you set for spring? QMS to host 5 advice meetings

Livestock farmers around Scotland are invited to attend one of the five free “Get Set for Spring: Winter Grazing Strategies”...

Summer drought spurs efforts to reduce horticultural peat use
Summer drought spurs efforts to reduce horticultural peat use

Industry research and innovation on alternatives to using peat in commercial horticulture will be showcased at a series of Agriculture...

Government increases access for landowners’ woodland creation grants
Government increases access for landowners’ woodland creation grants

From today, it will be easier for landowners to access Government grants for creating new woodland, Environment Minister Therese Coffey...

8 potential slavery victims rescued from Cambridge farm
8 potential slavery victims rescued from Cambridge farm

Eight potential modern-day slavery victims have been rescued and safeguarded in a multi-agency operation in Cambridgeshire on Friday (September 7)....

Calves with company found to grow the best
Calves with company found to grow the best

Calves housed in groups with computerised feeding perform better than those kept penned individually, according to animal nutritionists. Less work,...

7 first-choice newcomers on Forage Maize and Biogas Maize Descriptive Lists
7 first-choice newcomers on Forage Maize and Biogas Maize Descriptive Lists

Seven new first-choice varieties have been added to the British Society of Plant Breeder’s 2019 Forage Maize Descriptive Lists (DL),...

UK research team leads international fight against African Swine Fever
UK research team leads international fight against African Swine Fever

Pioneering research by a team of UK researchers has helped to provide two of the world’s best hopes of a...

Potato growers urged to put as much energy into storage as growth
Potato growers urged to put as much energy into storage as growth

Potato growers are being advised to put as much effort into storage planning as they do into the rest of...

Report warns ‘bartering away’ food standards risks hormone beef imports
Report warns ‘bartering away’ food standards risks hormone beef imports

A new report by food policy experts shows that if the UK’s food standards were weakened in exchange, for example,...