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.

NI’s protein crops payment to begin in time for 2021 scheme year
NI’s protein crops payment to begin in time for 2021 scheme year

Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons has announced the introduction of a pilot payment scheme for protein crops will begin in time...

Ballymoney Show becomes the first of NI’s summer shows to cancel for 2021
Ballymoney Show becomes the first of NI’s summer shows to cancel for 2021

Ballymoney Show has become the first of the summer shows to cancel in Northern Ireland for 2021. The event, which...

Local avian influenza restrictions lifted around 2 outbreak farms in NI
Local avian influenza restrictions lifted around 2 outbreak farms in NI

Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons has announced that the local Surveillance Zones around the two commercial poultry farms where Highly Pathogenic...

The price of low-cost: Irish food chain systems accused of ‘perpetuating rural poverty’
The price of low-cost: Irish food chain systems accused of ‘perpetuating rural poverty’

The modern low-cost food system “perpetuates rural poverty”, a Northern Ireland based rural development academic and lobbyist has warned. Rural...

Women in Science: Challenge yourself… you might just find a career you love
Women in Science: Challenge yourself… you might just find a career you love

Get out of your comfort zone, get speaking at conferences, meeting people and trying new things, one of Northern Ireland’s...

£2 million Covid-19 support fund launched for NI hatching egg sector
£2 million Covid-19 support fund launched for NI hatching egg sector

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a financial support package worth up to £2 million for poultry farmers...

‘Ag Science might not be ‘sexy’ …but you’d be a fool not to follow your interests’
‘Ag Science might not be ‘sexy’ …but you’d be a fool not to follow your interests’

Ag science might not be as “sexy” as some other fields, but follow your interests and you’ll be rewarded with...

First Letters of Offer arrive for £15 million FBIS Tier 1 scheme
First Letters of Offer arrive for £15 million FBIS Tier 1 scheme

Letters of Offer for the £15 million Farm Business Improvement Scheme (FBIS) have started to issue to thousands of farmers, Agriculture...

Northern Ireland weighing up deposit return scheme for plastic bottles
Northern Ireland weighing up deposit return scheme for plastic bottles

Work is underway to review the feasibility of a deposit return scheme for single-use plastic bottles in Northern Ireland. Speaking in...

‘Covid-19 has not just caused a health crisis but also a hunger crisis’
‘Covid-19 has not just caused a health crisis but also a hunger crisis’

A world-renown foods rights academic has warned that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a “hunger crisis” even in some of...

‘Independent strategic review’ to examine future of NI’s agri-food sector
‘Independent strategic review’ to examine future of NI’s agri-food sector

Northern Ireland Economy Minister Dianne Dodds has revealed intentions to launch an independent strategic review on the future of Northern...

Minister Lyons announces £840,000 for NI farm innovation projects
Minister Lyons announces £840,000 for NI farm innovation projects

Seven groups across Northern Ireland have been awarded £840,000 to work with farmers in developing practical solutions to address problems...

McDonald’s walk-in announcement step in the right direction for suppliers
McDonald’s walk-in announcement step in the right direction for suppliers

Moves to reopen McDonald’s stores for walk-in customers could help stabilise beef markets as the hospitality sector shutdown shows no...

Sommet to lead the way on ‘new digital era’ for shows
Sommet to lead the way on ‘new digital era’ for shows

Directors of one of Europe’s largest specialist livestock shows – Sommet de l’Élevage (Livestock Summit) – have announced plans to embark...

How an Australian cattle rancher sold Microsoft $500,000 of carbon credits
How an Australian cattle rancher sold Microsoft $500,000 of carbon credits

Computing giant Microsoft has launched a new partnership with Australian farm Wilmot Cattle Company to use grazing cattle to offset...

‘Surprises planned’ for special 30th Sommet de l’Élevage show
‘Surprises planned’ for special 30th Sommet de l’Élevage show

Major European agricultural show Sommet de l’Élevage (Livestock Summit) is hoping to hit 100,000 visitors as it becomes a four-day event...

Food, Farming and Land Convention to debate future of sustainable farming in NI
Food, Farming and Land Convention to debate future of sustainable farming in NI

Conservation charity the RSPB NI is set to host a two-day conference to examine the future of sustainable farming and...

NAP derogation applications and fertilisation account deadline extended in NI
NAP derogation applications and fertilisation account deadline extended in NI

The submission deadline for manure export records and NAP derogation applications and fertilisation accounts in Northern Ireland has been extended....