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.

Just 22.5% of NI waste crime fines reinvested in fighting illegal dumping
Just 22.5% of NI waste crime fines reinvested in fighting illegal dumping

Less than a quarter of fines paid to the Department of Agriculture for waste crimes such as fly-tipping are reinvested...

CAFRE to launch NI’s first horticulture honours degree course
CAFRE to launch NI’s first horticulture honours degree course

Northern horticulture students can now, for the first time, study for an honours degree within Northern Ireland, Agriculture Minister, Edwin...

Cattle immune cell breakthrough to open avenues for treating disease
Cattle immune cell breakthrough to open avenues for treating disease

A collaborative study has made a breakthrough characterising new immune cells in cattle which could change how livestock diseases are...

Moy Park cuts plastic in packaging by 10% in just a year
Moy Park cuts plastic in packaging by 10% in just a year

Northern Ireland poultry giant Moy Park has reduced the amount of plastic in its packaging by 10% over the past...

Poots launches £1 million equipment fund for micro food businesses
Poots launches £1 million equipment fund for micro food businesses

Northern Ireland’s Rural Affairs Minster Edwin Poots has launched a £1 million capital grant scheme to help micro food and...

DAERA warns net-zero in NI would require ‘significant’ livestock reduction
DAERA warns net-zero in NI would require ‘significant’ livestock reduction

Aiming for net-zero by 2050 would require a “significant” reduction in livestock numbers in Northern Ireland, according to DAERA’s director...

Environment Bill targets halving NI emissions within next decade
Environment Bill targets halving NI emissions within next decade

Legally-binding goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030 and 82% by 2050 are set to be included...

Lemken reports turnover of €365 million in 2020
Lemken reports turnover of €365 million in 2020

Agricultural implement manufacturer Lemken has said its sales have remained steady over the last year, despite the challenges of the...

Minister to be final decision-maker for NI area-based scheme reviews
Minister to be final decision-maker for NI area-based scheme reviews

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has announced he will be the final decision-maker in future reviews of area-based scheme...

New NI research project demonstrates effects of housing cows on cow optimism
New NI research project demonstrates effects of housing cows on cow optimism

New research led by Queen’s University Belfast has found that total confinement systems may negatively impact the ‘optimism’ of dairy...

NI suppliers call for Lakeland and Dale Farm to follow Glanbia in solids-based pricing
NI suppliers call for Lakeland and Dale Farm to follow Glanbia in solids-based pricing

A group of northern dairy farmers have called for their processors to follow suit with Glanbia Ireland, which this week...

Calls for independent panel to include mental health experts
Calls for independent panel to include mental health experts

Calls have been made for Northern Ireland’s Review of Decisions independent panel to include mental health experts for all cases...

Proposals put forward for all-island animal cruelty register
Proposals put forward for all-island animal cruelty register

Proposals have been floated for an all-island animal cruelty register to crack down on banned animal keepers moving between jurisdictions to...

Glanbia to move northern suppliers to solids-based pricing by 2024
Glanbia to move northern suppliers to solids-based pricing by 2024

Glanbia Ireland has told northern milk suppliers it plans to move to solids-based pricing by 2024. The butterfat base level...

Island’s milk pool faces ‘ridiculous scenario’ where milk is Irish ‘everywhere except Ireland’
Island’s milk pool faces ‘ridiculous scenario’ where milk is Irish ‘everywhere except Ireland’

The island’s milk pool faces a “ridiculous scenario” where milk produced in the Republic of Ireland is often no longer...

Planning permission granted for north-west wind farm
Planning permission granted for north-west wind farm

Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon has today (March 16) announced her decision to grant planning permission for a wind...

Department to weigh up options for NI vet school
Department to weigh up options for NI vet school

A report to analyse the best options for establishing a vet school within the region has been commissioned by Northern...

NI farmers ‘left struggling’ because of NI Protocol
NI farmers ‘left struggling’ because of NI Protocol

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has claimed many Northern Ireland farmers have been “left struggling” with vital aspects of their farm...