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.

Last chance to attend soil analysis report training
Last chance to attend soil analysis report training

If you are one of over 1,000 farmers across Northern Ireland who received free soil sampling and analysis reports and...

Tier 1: Letters of offer on the way to NI farmers
Tier 1: Letters of offer on the way to NI farmers

Waiting time could be up already for those in for Tier 1, as Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and...

Meet the 1 in 11 million calves from Co. Down
Meet the 1 in 11 million calves from Co. Down

One Co. Down farmer had the surprise of his life last Thursday night when his heifer gave birth to four...

BBC goes ‘Tractor Mad’ across the counties
BBC goes ‘Tractor Mad’ across the counties

It’s all about tractors in the latest True North programme for BBC One Northern Ireland as this weekend viewers meet...

BBC goes ‘Tractor Mad’ across the counties
BBC goes ‘Tractor Mad’ across the counties

It’s all about tractors in the latest True North programme for BBC One Northern Ireland as this weekend viewers meet...

Zinc oxide ban could increase antibiotic reliance
Zinc oxide ban could increase antibiotic reliance

A ban on therapeutic zinc oxide use could increase pig sector reliance on antibiotics at a time when pressure is mounting for...

Radical movement controls could push Ireland towards TB eradication
Radical movement controls could push Ireland towards TB eradication

For the first time scientists say they could have the answer to eradicating TB in Ireland – and there’s no reason...

Radical movement controls could push Ireland towards TB eradication
Radical movement controls could push Ireland towards TB eradication

For the first time scientists say they could have the answer to eradicating TB in Ireland – and there’s no reason...

Budget ‘encouraging’ but longer term decisions are needed
Budget ‘encouraging’ but longer term decisions are needed

Ulster Farmers’ Union president Barclay Bell has said the recently announced 2018-19 budget allocation for the Department of Agriculture, Environment...

Farmers affected by greenways ‘not treated properly’
Farmers affected by greenways ‘not treated properly’

Local councils are not treating farmers involved in greenways projects fairly, the Ulster Farmer’s Union (UFU) has warned. The 25-year...

City farming and promoting women in ag: Youths’ ideas for future farming
City farming and promoting women in ag: Youths’ ideas for future farming

An innovative farm investment scheme; the opportunities of benchmarking; and promoting women’s role in shaping farming businesses were among the...

Controversial Ballykelly move ‘on time and on budget’ for mid-April
Controversial Ballykelly move ‘on time and on budget’ for mid-April

Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture’s controversial move to its new headquarters in the north-west is on schedule to see staff...

Members told RUAS income hit £5.4 million in 2017
Members told RUAS income hit £5.4 million in 2017

The society behind Northern Ireland’s biggest agricultural show has seen its income reach almost £5.4 million (€6.1 million) in 2017....

Could your tidy farm net you a grand?
Could your tidy farm net you a grand?

A new competition is boasting prizes of up to £1,000 for farmers who impress a team of judges with their...

SMP demand to stabilise prices as peak milk production gets underway
SMP demand to stabilise prices as peak milk production gets underway

Despite a predicted slight weakening in milk base prices in early 2018, demand for skimmed milk powder (SMP) could help...

In limbo: Here’s the 8 urgent ministerial decisions needed for NI
In limbo: Here’s the 8 urgent ministerial decisions needed for NI

Flooding relief and knowledge transfer have been confirmed to be two of the eight Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture (DAERA) decisions...

New RUAS chief exec set to start role later this week
New RUAS chief exec set to start role later this week

The Royal Ulster Agricultural Show’s postponed annual meeting will take place this Friday after it was snowed off. The meeting...

NI animal welfare complaints ‘could include a cow lying down’
NI animal welfare complaints ‘could include a cow lying down’

Stressful animal welfare inspections could be instigated by as little as a member of the public seeing a cow lying...