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.

#YourHarvest campaign urges MPs to visit a farm
#YourHarvest campaign urges MPs to visit a farm

The NFU will urge MPs to pledge to visit a farm over harvest at the Westminster launch of its ‘#YourHarvest’...

Co. Down farmer fined following welfare charges
Co. Down farmer fined following welfare charges

A Co. Down farmer was today fined and sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for two years, on animal...

Champion Limousin manages Interbreed Reserve at Great Yorkshire Show
Champion Limousin manages Interbreed Reserve at Great Yorkshire Show

In what turned out to be outstanding weather conditions, the quality of the cattle exhibited at the Great Yorkshire Show...

2018 Great Yorkshire Show branded ‘one of the best ever’
2018 Great Yorkshire Show branded ‘one of the best ever’

More than 134,000 visitors flocked to the 160th Great Yorkshire Show, which organisers have hailed “one of the best ever”....

Farmers urged to take action on Johne’s as national deadline nears
Farmers urged to take action on Johne’s as national deadline nears

Farmers are urged to take action now to ensure they are ready for the beginning of the second phase of...

New sheep guides to focus on top ram traits 
New sheep guides to focus on top ram traits 

Sheep breeders looking to produce lambs that meet target specification now have access to two new manuals from Agriculture and Horticulture...

‘Quick thinking’ ploughing halts crop fires across England
‘Quick thinking’ ploughing halts crop fires across England

Fire crews and farmers worked together over the weekend to stop the spread of fires across fields of standing crops....

£1.2 million research project to breed disease and weather resilient crops
£1.2 million research project to breed disease and weather resilient crops

The Harper Adams University Fresh Produce Research Centre (FPRC) and University of Warwick Crop Centre have recently been jointly awarded...

Farm Safety Week: Aberdeen farmer tells how kick left his ligaments ‘like broken cables’
Farm Safety Week: Aberdeen farmer tells how kick left his ligaments ‘like broken cables’

As this year’s Farm Safety Week gets underway from Monday, July 16 until Friday, July 20, farmers from across Scotland...

Industry visits to inspire new robotics and crop quality research
Industry visits to inspire new robotics and crop quality research

Students from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) £1.4 million PhD programme visited food and agricultural businesses to boost...

‘Sentences for rural crime must act as a deterrent’
‘Sentences for rural crime must act as a deterrent’

The NFU raised its concerns with the solicitor general that the sentences given for rural crime do not act as a strong...

11% of dairymen now autumn calving as more consider changing
11% of dairymen now autumn calving as more consider changing

The number of farmers switching to autumn block calving has risen, with potentially more to follow, according to the latest...

360t of counterfeit pesticides seized in Operation Silver Axe III
360t of counterfeit pesticides seized in Operation Silver Axe III

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has seized 360t of illegal or counterfeit pesticides as part of its Europol-coordinated campaign Operation...

Japanese officials inspect on UK beef and lamb production controls
Japanese officials inspect on UK beef and lamb production controls

Beef and lamb production controls have been inspected by government officials from Japan this week as part of ongoing moves...

Just 2 out of every 5 English farm managers have had formal training
Just 2 out of every 5 English farm managers have had formal training

Less than 40% of farm managers in England have any formal agricultural training, according to a Government survey published this...

Letter opposing game shooting leaves Welsh Government ‘serious questions to answer’
Letter opposing game shooting leaves Welsh Government ‘serious questions to answer’

In a dramatic end to the widely publicised Natural Resource Wales (NRW) review of the use of firearms on land...

Last chance to apply for 2019 Nuffield Farming Scholarship
Last chance to apply for 2019 Nuffield Farming Scholarship

t’s less than three weeks until the July 31 deadline for Nuffield Farming Scholarship applications. Applicants are urged to finalise...

Government recognises value of controlled burning in preventing wildfires
Government recognises value of controlled burning in preventing wildfires

Countryside organisations have welcomed ministerial acknowledgement of moorland management’s role in helping to prevent wildfires. The Countryside Alliance, Moorland Association...