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.

NI research to investigate link between stock genetics and temperament
NI research to investigate link between stock genetics and temperament

A Northern Ireland research project is hoping to examine the link between stock genetics and temperament in a bid to...

Agri-tech start-up which gives machinery the ‘power of sight’ clinches £75,000 prize fund
Agri-tech start-up which gives machinery the ‘power of sight’ clinches £75,000 prize fund

An early-stage agri-tech start-up that hopes to make farms safer by giving machinery the "power of sight", has clinched a...

Blue Peter angers agri-food groups over green badge challenge
Blue Peter angers agri-food groups over green badge challenge

Long-running children's TV programme Blue Peter has angered agri-food bodies by encouraging children to go meat-free as part of its...

RBST Watchlist: 75 of the UK’s rarest breeds listed as ‘high priority’
RBST Watchlist: 75 of the UK’s rarest breeds listed as ‘high priority’

A total of 75 native UK livestock and poultry breeds - including the cattle breed behind the world's first vaccine...

Rare Breed series finale postponed
Rare Breed series finale postponed

The broadcast of the final episode of the current series of UTV’s Rare Breed – A Farming Year, has been...

Air Ambulance fundraiser set to be one of NI’s biggest rural charity auctions
Air Ambulance fundraiser set to be one of NI’s biggest rural charity auctions

An auction held in aid of the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland is set to be one of the region's biggest...

Warning lack of industry unity could have negative consequences at UN Food Systems Summit
Warning lack of industry unity could have negative consequences at UN Food Systems Summit

The chairperson of a group representing females within the UK meat industry has said she is "extremely concerned" lack of...

Investigation over buried machinery continues one year on
Investigation over buried machinery continues one year on

A year on from the discovery of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stolen machinery found buried on a...

Organic fertilisers found to reduce risk of foodborne pathogens on arable crops
Organic fertilisers found to reduce risk of foodborne pathogens on arable crops

Research carried out in the U.S. has found that manure does not promote pathogen survival - and may even promote...

CAFRE advisory body seeks new chairperson and dairy rep
CAFRE advisory body seeks new chairperson and dairy rep

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is seeking a new chairperson and member for CAFRE’s College Advisory...

Calls for NI’s RHI scheme to remain open as Stormont examines options to wind scheme down
Calls for NI’s RHI scheme to remain open as Stormont examines options to wind scheme down

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is urging farmers who are participants of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, to respond...

YFCU reports losses at both club level and headquarters
YFCU reports losses at both club level and headquarters

Northern Ireland's largest rural youth organisation, YFCU, is bracing itself to notify members of losses at both headquarters and club...

Moy Park to launch ‘Agricultural Academy’
Moy Park to launch ‘Agricultural Academy’

Poultry giant Moy Park has announced plans to launch an ‘Agricultural Academy’ aimed at upskilling its UK agricultural team. The...

Open Farm Weekend to run as virtual event for 2021
Open Farm Weekend to run as virtual event for 2021

Organisers of Northern Ireland's farm open day event 'Open Farm Weekend' have confirmed this year's event will take place virtually....

Could you be one of NI’s first Environmental Technology Farms?
Could you be one of NI’s first Environmental Technology Farms?

Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture (DAERA) is seeking the best examples of environmentally-friendly farms to join its new Technology Demonstration...

UFU supports bill pushing for return of ANC payment
UFU supports bill pushing for return of ANC payment

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has come out in support of a proposed bill to reintroduce an Areas of Natural...

Poots: Industry must accept farming’s influence on the environment has ‘not always been positive’
Poots: Industry must accept farming’s influence on the environment has ‘not always been positive’

Northern Ireland's agri-food stakeholders must accept the industry's influence on the environment has "not always been positive" attendees at AFBI's...

Partnership to train packaging specialists to reduce agri-food plastic use
Partnership to train packaging specialists to reduce agri-food plastic use

A new partnership will fund training for packaging technologists in Northern Ireland in a drive to find more sustainable alternatives...