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.

Jaegerbomb: Society weighing up changes
Jaegerbomb: Society weighing up changes

The possibility of policy changes in the wake of the Jaegerbomb saga is set to come under discussion at the...

Union to take department to court over CAP appeals decision
Union to take department to court over CAP appeals decision

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said it will challenge through judicial review the department’s decision to move from a two-stage review...

New RUAS boss to turn Balmoral into ‘hub of international excellence’
New RUAS boss to turn Balmoral into ‘hub of international excellence’

It might have just completed the biggest change in its 150-year history in moving showgrounds and adding an extra day...

GM crops field trial planned in UK
GM crops field trial planned in UK

A UK research organisation is seeking permission to release Camelina plants genetically modified to potentially replace petrochemically-derived lubricants. The application,...

Jaegerbomb owner: ‘I thought of selling everything and quitting’
Jaegerbomb owner: ‘I thought of selling everything and quitting’

The owner of champion AI bull Ballinloan Jaegerbomb has warned the mix-up could have cost millions in compensation had the...

Dutch farmers visit Northern Ireland’s green fields
Dutch farmers visit Northern Ireland’s green fields

Dutch farmers are known globally for their innovative approach to the industry, but could a group of leading dairy farmers...

Farm lobby group to protest at Stormont
Farm lobby group to protest at Stormont

Farming lobby group Farmers For Action (FFA) is calling for farmers to take to Stormont to urge Northern Ireland’s politicians...

Farm lobby group to protest at Stormont
Farm lobby group to protest at Stormont

Farming lobby group Farmers For Action (FFA) is calling for farmers to take to Stormont to urge Northern Ireland’s politicians...

Why there’s one tractor this Co. Antrim dealer will never sell
Why there’s one tractor this Co. Antrim dealer will never sell

While dozens of tractors and machinery might come and go every month from Co. Antrim agricultural machinery dealer Hunter Kane’s...

£500,000 earmarked for north-west flooding
£500,000 earmarked for north-west flooding

Half a million pounds have been ear-marked for a department-funded project to tackle impact of flooding in the north-west. The...

Tea with May: Down farmer requests ‘end to calendar farming’
Tea with May: Down farmer requests ‘end to calendar farming’

Co. Down dairy farmer Stephen Jackson couldn’t have gone much higher when he took the ‘calendar farming’ concerns of thousands...

Thinking of growing grass for AD? Here’s what you need to know
Thinking of growing grass for AD? Here’s what you need to know

Farmers involved in Northern Ireland’s booming anaerobic digestion sector could improve performance by concentrating on raising their grass yields and quality,...

‘Back our farmers: They will always deliver during times of national need’
‘Back our farmers: They will always deliver during times of national need’

The message to Government is much the same today as back 100 years ago when the Ulster Farmer’s Union was...

Better land management could be worth up to £196m a year to Northern dairy sector
Better land management could be worth up to £196m a year to Northern dairy sector

Putting existing nutrient and soil management guidance into practice could boost Northern Ireland’s dairy sector income by a whopping £196...

Society advises against Jaegerbomb semen use following DNA doubts
Society advises against Jaegerbomb semen use following DNA doubts

The UK’s Limousin society has advised members not to buy or use Ballinloan Jaegerbomb semen following doubts over the champion...

Beef societies join forces for first time for bumper spring bull sale
Beef societies join forces for first time for bumper spring bull sale

Northern Ireland’s Blonde Club and British Blue Society have teamed up with the region’s Simmental club to hold their individual...

AI bull’s pedigree status put on hold amid parentage doubts
AI bull’s pedigree status put on hold amid parentage doubts

An up-and-coming champion AI bull whose semen has been sold internationally has had his pedigree status put on hold after...

Ag student’s self-designed aerater wins big plaudits
Ag student’s self-designed aerater wins big plaudits

Despite only being in the second year of his agricultural engineering degree, Co. Antrim student David Kelso has already designed...