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.

Pioneering approach to protein could lower meal bills
Pioneering approach to protein could lower meal bills

Farmers could be needlessly spending thousands on higher levels of protein in cow rations, according to a dairy feed expert....

Brussels to offer ‘flexibility’ to farmers dealing with droughts
Brussels to offer ‘flexibility’ to farmers dealing with droughts

The European Commission has said it will offer a number of measures, including increased flexibility, to help farmers grappling with...

NFYFC to cancel all future annual conventions
NFYFC to cancel all future annual conventions

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) board of management has ruled that the federation will cancel its 2019...

Scottish stakeholders meet to seek fodder shortage solutions
Scottish stakeholders meet to seek fodder shortage solutions

Scottish stakeholders met in Edinburgh on Wednesday (August 1) identifying solutions to the feed and fodder shortfalls to be faced...

Welsh farmers voice concerns of ‘lack of clarity’ surrounding public goods
Welsh farmers voice concerns of ‘lack of clarity’ surrounding public goods

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Cymru’s Rural Affairs Board has voiced concerns around proposals to replace the Common Agricultural Policy in...

Entry date looming for Northern Ireland multi-breed calf show
Entry date looming for Northern Ireland multi-breed calf show

Budding showmen and women are reminded that entry forms for Northern Ireland’s 16th annual dairy calf show must be submitted...

First English AD plant certified in performance scheme
First English AD plant certified in performance scheme

Bore Hill Farm has become the first anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in England to be certified under a new performance scheme....

NI’s post-Brexit framework document gets the nod from union
NI’s post-Brexit framework document gets the nod from union

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has welcomed the long-awaited publication of post-Brexit options for the farming industry in Northern Ireland....

Calls to give flexibility to farming rules amid drought
Calls to give flexibility to farming rules amid drought

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has supported industry calls to relax farming regulations to reduce the pressure on...

UK’s first post-Brexit farming scheme unveiled
UK’s first post-Brexit farming scheme unveiled

The Environment Secretary has today announced that the ‘Payment by Results’ (PBR) project will be the first agri-environment scheme directly...

Agricultural drought summit sets agenda for Government action
Agricultural drought summit sets agenda for Government action

The farming industry leaders, Government officials and Secretary of State Michael Gove came together this morning for the National Farmers’...

DAERA launches consultation on post-Brexit agricultural policy for Northern Ireland
DAERA launches consultation on post-Brexit agricultural policy for Northern Ireland

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is to engage with the wider farming, food and environmental sectors...

Rural support for green watchdog – but warnings to drop the complexity
Rural support for green watchdog – but warnings to drop the complexity

Rural land managers have warned that to deliver for the environment successfully, any new ‘green watchdog’ must not add extra...

Milk to feed price ratio tracks below 5-year average
Milk to feed price ratio tracks below 5-year average

After hitting a record high in October 2017, the milk to feed price ratio (MFPR) has been in decline ever...

Farmers For Action walk out of Ammonia Stakeholder Forum
Farmers For Action walk out of Ammonia Stakeholder Forum

A Northern Ireland farm lobby group has said that a number of “intolerable” issues and “lack of independent advice” have caused...

New drone regulations under discussion…what’s being weighed up?
New drone regulations under discussion…what’s being weighed up?

Soon to be made official drone regulations could see users required to formally file flight plans in advance and even include...

Northern Ireland Environmental Farming Scheme inspections underway
Northern Ireland Environmental Farming Scheme inspections underway

Inspections for Northern Ireland’s Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) farms are about to begin. Participants will have already claimed for the...

Half a million boost for nitrogen and sulphur cereals research
Half a million boost for nitrogen and sulphur cereals research

Two new AHDB cereals research projects on nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) management in oats and wheat have been bolstered...