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.

Poots was ‘not convinced’ PSNI had full understanding of port staff threats
Poots was ‘not convinced’ PSNI had full understanding of port staff threats

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots told officials he was "not convinced" police had a full understanding of the perceived...

McAleer calls for UK-EU veterinary agreement
McAleer calls for UK-EU veterinary agreement

Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer has said there is an "urgent need" for a veterinary agreement between the UK and...

DAERA customs facilities delayed again… this time until 2023
DAERA customs facilities delayed again… this time until 2023

Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture has warned permanent customs facilities for agri-food produce will now not be ready until at...

Poots announces £500,000 support for ‘solar walk’ rural tourism project
Poots announces £500,000 support for ‘solar walk’ rural tourism project

Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots has announced £500,000 of funding today (April 19) for a new rural tourism project you...

NI fails to make any significant progress on river basin management over last 6 years
NI fails to make any significant progress on river basin management over last 6 years

Northern Ireland has failed to make any significant progress towards its river basin water quality targets over the last six...

Quarter of island’s native birds now ‘red-listed’
Quarter of island’s native birds now ‘red-listed’

Swifts, puffins and kestrels have been identified among the birds most at peril as a new cross-border report shows a...

2021 YFCU Club of the Year announced
2021 YFCU Club of the Year announced

Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) has announced the winner of its 2021 Club Of The Year competition. Winning club,...

YFCU elects Glarryford man as new president
YFCU elects Glarryford man as new president

Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) members have elected Glarryford YFC member Peter Alexander as their new president. More than...

AFBI issues Nematodirus warning for Northern Ireland
AFBI issues Nematodirus warning for Northern Ireland

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) Veterinary Sciences Division has issued a warning over Nematodirus in Northern Ireland. Nematodirus worm...

MLAs seek Assembly action over NI’s ‘woodland scarcity’
MLAs seek Assembly action over NI’s ‘woodland scarcity’

SDLP MLAs have called for action to repair Northern Ireland’s woodland after a report published this week warned the UK's...

NI total farm income up by a third in 2020
NI total farm income up by a third in 2020

Northern Ireland's total farm income soared by a third last year, according to the department's first provisional estimate for 2020....

NI milk prices edge upwards for March
NI milk prices edge upwards for March

Northern Ireland milk processors have announced increases to prices of up to 1p/L for March's milk. Dairy processors Dale Farm,...

3-hour operation to save stuck bullock from slurry tank
3-hour operation to save stuck bullock from slurry tank

Five crews of firefighters spent a gruelling three and a half hours trying to free a stuck bullock from a...

More than 1,000 responses to ANC Bill consultation
More than 1,000 responses to ANC Bill consultation

A Private Members Bill proposing the reinstatement of support payments for Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) in Northern Ireland has...

Agricultural bodies join forces to form NI Rural Health Forum
Agricultural bodies join forces to form NI Rural Health Forum

Agricultural stakeholders in Northern Ireland have joined forces to establish a NI Rural Health Forum to lobby on health issues...

New farm-led research to investigate leatherjacket control strategies
New farm-led research to investigate leatherjacket control strategies

A group of four Fermanagh farmers have teamed up with AgriSearch and Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to investigate different...

Blue Peter executives row back over meat-free challenge
Blue Peter executives row back over meat-free challenge

Blue Peter bosses appear to have rowed back over a nationwide challenge in which children were encouraged to swap meat...

Cull sow support fund expected to open for applications within weeks
Cull sow support fund expected to open for applications within weeks

Applications for a £2 million Covid-19 financial support package for cull sows are likely to open within the next few...