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.

Why your best weapons against disease are a brush and hose
Why your best weapons against disease are a brush and hose

Farmers need to get back to basics with skills which were heavily emphasised in bygone days to reduce antibiotic use,...

Rare Breed farmer joins Open Farm Weekend line-up
Rare Breed farmer joins Open Farm Weekend line-up

Three new farms are set to open their gates to the public as part of this year’s Bank of Ireland...

Northern sheep breeders call for Sheep Ireland style programme
Northern sheep breeders call for Sheep Ireland style programme

Northern Ireland sheep farmers have said the Republic is “light-years ahead” in terms of its support and approach towards ram...

YFCU’s 2 new VPs set to be elected this weekend
YFCU’s 2 new VPs set to be elected this weekend

Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster (YFCU) members are set to elect two new vice presidents to the organisation’s presidential team...

Major dairy processor declares interest in LacPatrick venture
Major dairy processor declares interest in LacPatrick venture

Northern Ireland’s largest farmer-owned milk processor has declared an interest in a potential venture with LacPatrick, AgriLand can reveal. A...

School finalists announced for first Northern Angus Challenge
School finalists announced for first Northern Angus Challenge

The finalists of a competition in which young people compete to rear calves and win the profits have been announced....

Grant awarded to develop a multiplex rapid test for mastitis
Grant awarded to develop a multiplex rapid test for mastitis

Glasgow’s School of Veterinary Medicine and a UK diagnostic test manufacturer have been awarded more than £800,000 (€926,000) to develop...

‘Farming is in a Brexit honeymoon period’
‘Farming is in a Brexit honeymoon period’

Farming in the UK and Ireland is still in a “Brexit honeymoon period”, according to one of Northern Ireland’s chief...

‘Farming is in a Brexit honeymoon period’
‘Farming is in a Brexit honeymoon period’

Farming in the UK and Ireland is still in a “Brexit honeymoon period”, according to one of Northern Ireland’s chief...

Tier 2 delays and ammonia fears stalling farm investment
Tier 2 delays and ammonia fears stalling farm investment

Delays in the Tier 2 grant scheme and fears of falling foul of tightened ammonia limits have put many Northern...

Local study to put slurry nutrient separation to the test
Local study to put slurry nutrient separation to the test

A pioneering study at the new Nutrient Management Centre at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is set to test...

Border farms could get ‘tax-free status’ post-Brexit
Border farms could get ‘tax-free status’ post-Brexit

Border farms and businesses could be given ‘tax-free status’ to ease post-EU trade pressures, the UK’s Brexit Secretary has said....

Could putting your heifers in calf first cut down on stragglers?
Could putting your heifers in calf first cut down on stragglers?

Serving cows who are likely to take longer to cycle – such as heifers – ahead of the rest of...

Milk price behind farming’s financial recovery
Milk price behind farming’s financial recovery

Recovery in the milk price is helping drive an improvement in the fortunes of Northern Ireland’s farming sector, according to...

Dairying: ‘We have lost the plot in Northern Ireland’
Dairying: ‘We have lost the plot in Northern Ireland’

Northern Ireland dairy farmers are on average getting less than half the industry’s target for milk from forage, according to...

Grass growth fortunes turning as temperatures start to rise
Grass growth fortunes turning as temperatures start to rise

GrassCheck’s predictions for grass growth have been trebled as temperatures start to rise across the country. Researchers said temperatures had...

Sheep farmers missing out on more than £5 million on lamb value
Sheep farmers missing out on more than £5 million on lamb value

As few as 5% of rams working in Northern Ireland flocks are performance recorded, leaving the sector missing out on...

Department ditches plans to scrap paper calf registrations by May
Department ditches plans to scrap paper calf registrations by May

Plans for paper calf registrations to be scrapped in a month’s time have been ditched by Northern Ireland’s Department of...