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.

Allflex acquires German agri-tech company
Allflex acquires German agri-tech company

International animal ID firm Allflex has announced that it has acquired German agricultural technology company, Agrident. Agrident specialises in radio-frequency...

UK pork trade: British exports fall 7% in June
UK pork trade: British exports fall 7% in June

Fresh and frozen pork exports fell 7% year-on-year in June to 16,700t, according to the latest HMRC figures. The fall in...

Indian Government incentive to boost Asian SMP exports
Indian Government incentive to boost Asian SMP exports

Indian exports of skimmed milk powder (SMP) are expected to rise substantially, following a government incentive to make the product...

Poor soil structure could cost up to £220/ha…but can you avoid common pitfalls?
Poor soil structure could cost up to £220/ha…but can you avoid common pitfalls?

Healthy soils are said to be the engine driving production on any farm; but just how much could poor soil...

David Black Award nominations deadline looming
David Black Award nominations deadline looming

The deadline for making nominations for the 2018 David Black Award is fast approaching with just 10 days left to...

New conference to drive technology advancements in horticulture
New conference to drive technology advancements in horticulture

Leading developers and influencers in agri-tech are being invited to exhibit at SmartHort 2019, a new conference designed to connect...

UK farmer wins European ‘Grand Prix’ award
UK farmer wins European ‘Grand Prix’ award

Eight pig producers from across Europe – including one from the UK – have won international awards for their innovation...

UK cheese exports up 18% in first half of 2018
UK cheese exports up 18% in first half of 2018

More than 93,000t of cheese were exported by the UK in the first half of 2018 – up about 18%...

AHDB releases 2018 winter wheat harvest results
AHDB releases 2018 winter wheat harvest results

The first yield data for the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Recommended Lists winter wheat trials are now available...

New figures highlight inefficiency in sheep dip disposal costs
New figures highlight inefficiency in sheep dip disposal costs

Farming leaders from the sheep sector are urging Defra and the Environment Agency to reconsider its decision to increase the...

Developing countries edging ahead of UK on organic agriculture
Developing countries edging ahead of UK on organic agriculture

A major new global assessment published in the prestigious journal Nature Sustainability shows that more than 29% of farms worldwide...

Arla board sets September milk price
Arla board sets September milk price

The board of Arla Foods has met to set its conventional milk price for September 2018. The board announced today...

Two-thirds of country sports supporters have been targeted online
Two-thirds of country sports supporters have been targeted online

The Countryside Alliance has been concerned over the last couple of years about the rise of online abuse against the...

NPA: Newer high-tech farm infrastructure could tackle agricultural ammonia
NPA: Newer high-tech farm infrastructure could tackle agricultural ammonia

The UK’s pig sector body has told the Government that newer, more efficient buildings could be the key to reducing...

High-achieving trio joins D&R board of directors
High-achieving trio joins D&R board of directors

Rural surveying firm Davidson & Robertson (D&R) has appointed three new directors in a bid to expand the breadth of...

British Blackcurrant growers finish harvest at 12,000t
British Blackcurrant growers finish harvest at 12,000t

As the British blackcurrant season comes to a close the growers’ association, the Blackcurrant Foundation says this season the crop...

Welsh farmers urged to speak out over ‘souped-up Glastir payments’
Welsh farmers urged to speak out over ‘souped-up Glastir payments’

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) is urging all those with an interest in the survival of the Welsh rural...

Bird flu confirmed on Russian 500,000-bird farm
Bird flu confirmed on Russian 500,000-bird farm

Russian authorities have confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza on a 500,000-bird commercial farm in Kostromskaya, a region to the...