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.

£2.2 million Covid-19 financial support announced for NI pig sector
£2.2 million Covid-19 financial support announced for NI pig sector

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has announced a £2.2 million financial support package for pig farmers impacted by the...

New inspections to check isolation of BVD animals in NI
New inspections to check isolation of BVD animals in NI

New, unannounced inspections to check that Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) positive animals are being isolated are set to begin in...

NI bovine TB plan expected to be published in March
NI bovine TB plan expected to be published in March

Hold-ups with the business plan have delayed the publication of Northern Ireland’s bovine TB plan, Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots told MLAs...

Queen’s mastitis and lameness study to aim to reduce dairy antibiotics use
Queen’s mastitis and lameness study to aim to reduce dairy antibiotics use

Three Northern Ireland organisations have joined forces to launch a research project to tackle bovine mastitis and lameness in a...

Poots calls for Republic’s support on cross-border milk processing
Poots calls for Republic’s support on cross-border milk processing

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has called on leaders in the Republic to support calls for the region’s agri-food...

Poots sets out plans to abolish Agricultural Wages Board
Poots sets out plans to abolish Agricultural Wages Board

Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has set out plans to revoke legislation which underpins the Agricultural Wages Board in Northern Ireland....

Growers call for NI protein crop pilot to be extended to second year
Growers call for NI protein crop pilot to be extended to second year

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has called for a department-led pilot on protein crop payments to be extended to a second year....

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister diagnosed with cancer
Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister diagnosed with cancer

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has confirmed he has cancer. According to the News Letter, a tumour was discovered...

Poots insists brands like Heinz, Hartley’s and Bisto are at risk in NI food shortage row
Poots insists brands like Heinz, Hartley’s and Bisto are at risk in NI food shortage row

“You can have your roast but you might not have Bisto on it,” Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots told...

9% increase proposed for agriculture in NI Draft Budget
9% increase proposed for agriculture in NI Draft Budget

The Executive’s spend on Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland is pencilled to increase by 9.1% according to...

New animal movement rules threaten end of showing in Britain for NI breeders
New animal movement rules threaten end of showing in Britain for NI breeders

New animal movement restrictions threaten to bring an end to the British show circuit for Northern Irish breeders, unless a...

Republic’s beef exports to NI up 10% in 2020
Republic’s beef exports to NI up 10% in 2020

Beef exports from the Republic to Northern Ireland have risen dramatically over the last 12 months, according to a newly...

UFU confirms plans to review AGM election procedure
UFU confirms plans to review AGM election procedure

The Ulster Farmers’ Union has confirmed it is currently reviewing changes to its election procedure. Currently, voting is carried out...

Winners of NI farming for climate change competition announced
Winners of NI farming for climate change competition announced

The winners of a new competition to encourage young farmers to share their most innovative ideas to address climate change...

NI sheep farmers urged to ‘use it or lose it’ with wool board
NI sheep farmers urged to ‘use it or lose it’ with wool board

Sheep farmers have been urged to continue to feed wool into wool depots, for fear shortages due to low prices...

RSPB: New bill could ‘turn the tide’ on NI’s devastating nature decline
RSPB: New bill could ‘turn the tide’ on NI’s devastating nature decline

Bird conservation charity RSPB NI has said a public consultation over an Environment and Nature Restoration Bill in Northern Ireland...

River trust offers 75% grant to farmers in Ballinderry catchment
River trust offers 75% grant to farmers in Ballinderry catchment

Farms in the Ballinderry river catchment could be eligible for a lucrative new grant supporting measures to improve water quality...

CAFRE seminar to examine how UK’s EU Exit will impact NI food labelling rules
CAFRE seminar to examine how UK’s EU Exit will impact NI food labelling rules

The College of Agriculture Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is set to host an online event explaining the new post-EU Exit...