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.

Heads are down as Lakeland and LacPatrick in talks
Heads are down as Lakeland and LacPatrick in talks

Merger talks for LacPatrick are understood to be heating up, AgriLand can reveal. High-level talks involving LacPatrick bosses and Lakeland...

New NFYFC training awards hopes to improve rural young people’s skills
New NFYFC training awards hopes to improve rural young people’s skills

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) hopes its two new training awards will help boost the level of...

‘Smart’ farms to transform how we produce food
‘Smart’ farms to transform how we produce food

The University of Leeds has launched a new ‘smart farming’ initiative aiming to give farms and business a competitive advantage...

Dale Farm declares ‘record year’ in latest set of financial accounts
Dale Farm declares ‘record year’ in latest set of financial accounts

The UK’s largest farmer-owned dairy cooperative, Dale Farm, has announced significant increases in profit, return on capital employed (ROCE) and turnover...

BVA: ‘Urgent action’ needed to avoid Welsh vet shortfall
BVA: ‘Urgent action’ needed to avoid Welsh vet shortfall

British Veterinary Association (BVA) president John Fishwick has called for “urgent action” to guard against a serious shortfall of vets...

Great Yarmouth vet to be struck off as RCVS rules on ‘alcohol issues’ and failings
Great Yarmouth vet to be struck off as RCVS rules on ‘alcohol issues’ and failings

The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has directed the college to remove a Great Yarmouth-based...

China to lift its longstanding British beef ban
China to lift its longstanding British beef ban

China has today lifted its longstanding British beef ban, in a landmark move for British producers estimated to be worth...

CO2 shortage: Gas should be directed to those who need it most
CO2 shortage: Gas should be directed to those who need it most

National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) has called for national carbon dioxide (CO2) supplies to be redirected to abattoirs in need...

‘FaceTime a Farmer’ founder becomes new East of England Farming Conference chair
‘FaceTime a Farmer’ founder becomes new East of England Farming Conference chair

Cambridgeshire farmer and founder of FaceTime a Farmer, Tom Martin, has been appointed the new East of England Farming Conference (EoEFC)...

Europe-wide CO2 shortage forces Scottish abattoir to close
Europe-wide CO2 shortage forces Scottish abattoir to close

A Scottish abattoir has announced it will close after running out of carbon dioxide (CO2). The gas, which is used...

Ulster Wool volume collected increases by 13% compared to year before
Ulster Wool volume collected increases by 13% compared to year before

Ulster Wool collections are up by around 13% for the season so far compared to the same period the year before....

Environment Secretary to address Countryside Alliance Conservative event
Environment Secretary to address Countryside Alliance Conservative event

Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, is set to speak at the Countryside Alliance fringe event on rural policy at the Conservative...

Farmer urged to take care as heat and fish kills trigger summer water pollution warning
Farmer urged to take care as heat and fish kills trigger summer water pollution warning

Industry, landowners and farmers have been urged to take extra care during the summer months to reduce the risk of water...

New hedgecutting rules to save crops from being crushed
New hedgecutting rules to save crops from being crushed

An amendment to Scottish hedgecutting regulations will allow cutting to take place prior to the sowing of oilseed rape and...

Highland Show: ‘Super stylish’ Limousin heifer clinches Interbreed Championship
Highland Show: ‘Super stylish’ Limousin heifer clinches Interbreed Championship

The Limousins swept up at this year’s Highland Show, clinching three of the top beef ring titles, including the Interbreed Championship....

Northern Irish milk processor wins Lidl’s biggest cheddar cheese contract
Northern Irish milk processor wins Lidl’s biggest cheddar cheese contract

One of Northern Ireland’s largest milk processors has become Lidl’s biggest cheddar cheese supplier on a global basis. The European retailer...

Competition offers the chance to ‘turn the school into a farm’ for a day
Competition offers the chance to ‘turn the school into a farm’ for a day

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has launched its ‘Farmvention’ competition – a challenge which aims to bring together farming and...

Batters’ message to Government: ‘British farmers are able to deliver’
Batters’ message to Government: ‘British farmers are able to deliver’

National Farmers’ Union (NFU) president Minette Batters will put British food and farming at the top of the agenda at...