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.

Ag Committee to make second complaint to DAERA permanent secretary
Ag Committee to make second complaint to DAERA permanent secretary

Stormont Agriculture Committee has agreed to a second formal complaint to the permanent secretary about the timeliness of important briefing...

NI farmers team up to launch innovative carbon project
NI farmers team up to launch innovative carbon project

Seven farmers from across Northern Ireland have teamed up to secure funding from Europe to investigate practical ways to measure,...

Devenish to expand business into Australia
Devenish to expand business into Australia

Northern Ireland headquartered feed and agri-technology company Devenish has expanded its business operations in Australia and New Zealand. The firm...

World’s biggest harvester makes its way to Ireland
World’s biggest harvester makes its way to Ireland

The first model of the world’s most powerful forage harvester, Krone’s BiG X 1180, has landed on Irish shores. The...

Sheep farmers urged to reduce number of ewes wormed at lambing
Sheep farmers urged to reduce number of ewes wormed at lambing

Sheep farmers have been urged to further cut back on the number of ewes they treat with wormers at lambing...

British Society of Animal Science to hold its first ever virtual conference
British Society of Animal Science to hold its first ever virtual conference

The British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) has announced plans to run its first-ever virtual conference. Organisers have big hopes...

Lyons urges NI farmers to get planting before time runs out
Lyons urges NI farmers to get planting before time runs out

Environment Minister Gordon Lyons has reminded NI farmers and landowners that they’ve only a few weeks left to apply for...

SES fails to respond to Agriculture Committee summons
SES fails to respond to Agriculture Committee summons

Staff at an influential Stormont committee have said it has been “difficult” to get responses from an environmental planning quango...

First Minister writes to all 650 MPs ahead of NI Protocol debate
First Minister writes to all 650 MPs ahead of NI Protocol debate

Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster has written to all 650 MPs ahead of a debate triggered by a petition...

DAERA facing £22.8 million in funding gaps
DAERA facing £22.8 million in funding gaps

Senior department officials in Northern Ireland have warned of gaping holes in DAERA’s funding for the year ahead. The department’s...

Agriculture Committee to investigate decision to withdraw NI border staff
Agriculture Committee to investigate decision to withdraw NI border staff

Political leaders in Northern Ireland have been accused of “overreacting” to perceived threats against border staff. It comes as the...

UFU backs calls for UK and EU agri-food standards to be aligned
UFU backs calls for UK and EU agri-food standards to be aligned

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said it would back an agreement in principle that would align the UK as...

Lyons urges public to have their say on NI’s environment governance issues
Lyons urges public to have their say on NI’s environment governance issues

Environment Minister Gordon Lyons today encouraged industry stakeholders to take an active role in shaping Northern Ireland’s approach to environmental...

Kerry Group reports short-seller to UK and Irish financial regulators
Kerry Group reports short-seller to UK and Irish financial regulators

Formal complaints have been made to both the UK and Ireland financial regulators regarding a report which shorted Kerry Group stocks....

Slump in EU sales of UK cream knocks British cream prices
Slump in EU sales of UK cream knocks British cream prices

Moves by EU foodservice and manufacturing customers to shun UK cream have already begun to knock butterfat prices in Britain....

Webinar to explore practicalities of protein crops for NI dairy sector
Webinar to explore practicalities of protein crops for NI dairy sector

The practicalities of growing protein crops are set to come under debate as part of an event informing farmers about...

Dairy firms plan to capitalise on vegan and flexitarian trends in Europe
Dairy firms plan to capitalise on vegan and flexitarian trends in Europe

International dairy conglomerate Müller has raised a few eyebrows this week announcing plans to trial a new “Müller vegan” range...

NI young farmer named as NEWBIE Award finalist
NI young farmer named as NEWBIE Award finalist

A Northern Ireland young farmer with a focus on increasing his milk from forage has made the final three of...