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.

Agriculture spending slashed by £6 million as NI emergency budget made law
Agriculture spending slashed by £6 million as NI emergency budget made law

Agriculture has become the biggest loser in the emergency budget for Northern Ireland proposed by Secretary of State James Brokenshire....

Better profitability in farming could ease farm succession woes
Better profitability in farming could ease farm succession woes

Better profitability in agriculture would allow older farmers to retire, making room for younger stockmen and growers, lobby group Farmers...

Fodder crisis: Response meetings to take place in north-west
Fodder crisis: Response meetings to take place in north-west

A series of response meetings will take place in the north-west to help farmers deal with the feared fodder shortage...

Fodder crisis: Response meetings to take place in north-west
Fodder crisis: Response meetings to take place in north-west

A series of response meetings will take place in the north-west to help farmers deal with the feared fodder shortage...

New Lakeland scheme to maximise farmers’ profits and efficiency
New Lakeland scheme to maximise farmers’ profits and efficiency

A new development programme launched by one of Northern Ireland’s biggest milk processors will help the region’s farmers maximise efficiency...

New Lakeland scheme to maximise farmers’ profits and efficiency
New Lakeland scheme to maximise farmers’ profits and efficiency

A new development programme launched by one of Northern Ireland’s biggest milk processors will help the region’s farmers maximise efficiency...

Six-hour TB test to launch at the end of this month
Six-hour TB test to launch at the end of this month

A pioneering six-hour TB test is expected to launch by the end of November. The test, called Actiphage, has been...

Arla boss: You can’t switch milk production on and off; farmers need to be able to plan for Brexit
Arla boss: You can’t switch milk production on and off; farmers need to be able to plan for Brexit

The UK dairy industry should be “recognised” in Brexit negotiations and details of the upcoming Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) plans released...

This Farming Life’s Bobby Lennox to lead bill at sheep producer event
This Farming Life’s Bobby Lennox to lead bill at sheep producer event

Scottish sheep producer Bobby Lennox, who starred on hit agricultural TV show This Farming Life, is set to head the line-up...

Down bagged salad firm ‘top of the crops’ at UK Food Manufacture Excellence Awards
Down bagged salad firm ‘top of the crops’ at UK Food Manufacture Excellence Awards

A multi-million pound salad grower and processor based in Co. Down has been named Fresh Produce Manufacturing Company of the Year...

World Dairy Summit: The Co. Down herd in the top 1% of £PLI rankings
World Dairy Summit: The Co. Down herd in the top 1% of £PLI rankings

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Hillsborough, Co. Down is home to one of the UK’s top £PLI ranking...

Breeding goals: ‘There’s no point breeding a 12,000L cow if she’ll not last’
Breeding goals: ‘There’s no point breeding a 12,000L cow if she’ll not last’

Milk volume is no longer the driver of dairy breeding in Northern Ireland, with attention now turning to lifetime productivity...

World Dairy Summit: Poor grass management could be costing you £241 a cow
World Dairy Summit: Poor grass management could be costing you £241 a cow

Farmers could be losing out on thousands of pounds simply by not effectively managing their grass, researchers say. AFBI’s Hillsborough research facility...

Lakeland Dairies’ second fixed price contract to include summer and winter rates
Lakeland Dairies’ second fixed price contract to include summer and winter rates

One of Ireland’s largest milk processors, Lakeland Dairies, has announced its second fixed price contract this week. The contract offers...

Artisan food sector given £88,000 research boost
Artisan food sector given £88,000 research boost

Northern Ireland’s artisan food sector has been given a £88,000 (€99,138) boost from Invest NI funding to help increase the...

Almost 90% of BPS stage two reviews are still ongoing
Almost 90% of BPS stage two reviews are still ongoing

Almost 90% of the North’s stage two Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) reviews are still ongoing, shocking figures have revealed. The findings,...

Farm antibiotic sales hit ‘all time low’ in the UK
Farm antibiotic sales hit ‘all time low’ in the UK

Antibiotic usage fell by more than a quarter in the UK over 2016, the latest figures show. Over the same...

Farmer fined after 14-year-old involved in slurry accident
Farmer fined after 14-year-old involved in slurry accident

A Co. Tyrone farmer has been fined £1,000 (€1,138) today, after a slurry accident saw a teenage casual employee fall unconscious...