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.

DAERA officials to come before Agriculture Committee over customs decision
DAERA officials to come before Agriculture Committee over customs decision

DAERA’s permanent secretary, its head of Brexit contingency and the Northern Ireland chief veterinary officer are all set to come...

Results of AgriSearch home-grown protein project to be presented in webinar
Results of AgriSearch home-grown protein project to be presented in webinar

An industry-funded PhD scholar is set to share the findings of his studies in a webinar next Monday. The event...

Michelle O’Neill warns of ‘no credible alternative to the protocol’
Michelle O’Neill warns of ‘no credible alternative to the protocol’

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill has warned there is “no credible alternative” to the Northern Ireland Protocol. It...

Calls for emergency Executive meeting on the back of Lyons’ ports intervention
Calls for emergency Executive meeting on the back of Lyons’ ports intervention

Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister has led calls for an emergency Executive meeting following Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons’ decision to halt progress setting...

NI Agriculture Minister orders staff to stop construction of inspection facilities
NI Agriculture Minister orders staff to stop construction of inspection facilities

Northern Ireland’s Minister of Agriculture has reportedly ordered staff to stop construction work on permanent inspection facilities at the region’s...

Farm Welfare Bill comes before NI Agriculture Committee
Farm Welfare Bill comes before NI Agriculture Committee

Northern Ireland agricultural lobby group NI Farm Groups put its Farm Welfare Bill before the Agriculture Committee on Thursday (February...

‘It’s good to see the minister face-to-face’ Ag Committee chairman tells chamber
‘It’s good to see the minister face-to-face’ Ag Committee chairman tells chamber

The relationship between the new DAERA Minister and the Agriculture Committee appears to have soured as members joked it was “good to...

NI’s school milk scheme extended for 2 years
NI’s school milk scheme extended for 2 years

Almost 200,000 pupils in NI will be able to benefit from subsidised milk for the next two years, Agriculture Minister...

60-70% of UK exports landing in Rotterdam with incorrect paperwork
60-70% of UK exports landing in Rotterdam with incorrect paperwork

As much as 70% of UK exports into Europe’s largest port, the Port of Rotterdam, have been arriving with incorrect...

NI milk production hits new record high
NI milk production hits new record high

Liquid milk production in Northern Ireland has hit a new record high as farms in the region pumped out 2,446.41...

Research shows evidence of carryover of BVD infection in NI
Research shows evidence of carryover of BVD infection in NI

Industry research in Northern Ireland has suggested the continued emergence of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) in 2021 is evidence of...

SES failure to give evidence ‘very, very unusal’
SES failure to give evidence ‘very, very unusal’

Long runs the fox as Shared Environmental Services (SES) continues to evade calls to provide evidence to a key Stormont...

Former NI agriculture minister Edwin Poots returns to MLA duties
Former NI agriculture minister Edwin Poots returns to MLA duties

Former Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has returned to his duties as an MLA. However, it could still be...

New £12 million fund aims to boost investment in UK agriculture
New £12 million fund aims to boost investment in UK agriculture

A new £12 million research and innovation fund has been launched across the UK aiming to boost investment in the...

New DAERA Minister declines Agriculture Committee invitation
New DAERA Minister declines Agriculture Committee invitation

Fault lines appear to be forming in the department’s relationship with the Stormont Agriculture Committee. Over the last few weeks,...

NI council votes over separate investigation over port staff decision
NI council votes over separate investigation over port staff decision

There were accusations of “veils of secrecy” and “councillors being used as pawns” as elected representatives on Mid and East...

Date set for NI’s Single Application window to open
Date set for NI’s Single Application window to open

Applications for Northern Ireland’s 2021 Basic Payment Scheme and Entitlement Transfer Service will open on March 1, Agriculture Minister Gordon...

New research reveals 40% drop in UK pig farming carbon footprint
New research reveals 40% drop in UK pig farming carbon footprint

The carbon footprint of British pig farming has reduced by almost 40% over the last 20 years, according to a...