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.

Fancy becoming one of NI’s new Sheep Technology Demonstration Farms?
Fancy becoming one of NI’s new Sheep Technology Demonstration Farms?

Farmers who would like to see their flock become one of Northern Ireland's two new Sheep Technology Demonstration Farms have...

UFU offers training for slurry contractors amid concern licensing could be introduced
UFU offers training for slurry contractors amid concern licensing could be introduced

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has announced plans to hold two online training sessions to inform slurry contractors about several...

Reducing calving age linked to 13% increase in lifetime dairy cow performance
Reducing calving age linked to 13% increase in lifetime dairy cow performance

Northern Ireland farmers are costing themselves thousands in additional heifer rearing costs by calving on average four and a half...

Farmworkers celebrate Tyrone victory… from the desert!
Farmworkers celebrate Tyrone victory… from the desert!

Two Irish farmworkers based on a dairy farm in the middle of the United Arab Emirates desert celebrated Tyrone's All-Ireland...

CattleEye secures $2.5 million seed investment to launch autonomous stock monitoring system
CattleEye secures $2.5 million seed investment to launch autonomous stock monitoring system

Belfast-based livestock monitoring technology company CattleEye has closed a $2.5 million (€2.1 million) seed investment round. The money has come...

Calls for NI Executive to intervene agri-food staff shortages – Sugden
Calls for NI Executive to intervene agri-food staff shortages – Sugden

Independent MLA Claire Sugden has called on Northern Ireland's Executive to act to ensure services, food and goods supply lines...

‘If Stormont collapses, so will NI’s Climate Bill’, protesters warn
‘If Stormont collapses, so will NI’s Climate Bill’, protesters warn

Protesters at Stormont have warned if Northern Ireland's political institutions fail, so will a controversial bill setting a net-zero target...

Fane Valley proposals for new processing plant to create up to 30 jobs
Fane Valley proposals for new processing plant to create up to 30 jobs

Fane Valley Co-op has unveiled proposals for a new food processing facility at Mandeville Industrial Estate in Craigavon, Co. Armagh....

DUP to withdraw from north-south arrangements
DUP to withdraw from north-south arrangements

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said the party will withdraw from north-south arrangements with immediate effect....

Feeder inaccuracy of up to 15% found on NI dairy farms
Feeder inaccuracy of up to 15% found on NI dairy farms

Out of kilter feeders could be adding up to 15% in additional feed costs with every milking, a project by...

Peatlands Strategy: UFU warns against funding bog rewetting plans from direct payments budget
Peatlands Strategy: UFU warns against funding bog rewetting plans from direct payments budget

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has aired its concerns over the economic effects of rewetting peatland in Northern Ireland as...

Trouw invests £2 million in upgrades to Belfast mill
Trouw invests £2 million in upgrades to Belfast mill

Animal nutrition company Trouw Nutrition has reinvested £2 million in its Belfast mill. The updates, which include the purchase of...

EU ‘not to launch infringement action’ over UK decision to extend Grace Periods
EU ‘not to launch infringement action’ over UK decision to extend Grace Periods

The European Commission has said it will not launch infringement action after the UK yesterday announced plans to extend the...

Growers warn peat ban could wipe out NI’s £46 million mushroom industry
Growers warn peat ban could wipe out NI’s £46 million mushroom industry

Northern Ireland growers have warned a ban on peat proposed in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs' (DAERA's)...

Mexican market access worth up to £50 million to British pork producers
Mexican market access worth up to £50 million to British pork producers

Access to the Mexican market could be worth up to £50 million to British pork producers in the first five...

UK miscanthus research gets government funding to help meet net-zero
UK miscanthus research gets government funding to help meet net-zero

A project to facilitate more planting of the bioenergy crop, miscanthus, has been awarded over £150,000 of funding. The money...

E10 rollout to boost UK wheat and sugar markets
E10 rollout to boost UK wheat and sugar markets

Petrol pumps across the UK will now offer greener E10 petrol from today (September 1). The UK government says the...

Gloucester TB-positive alpaca destroyed, Defra confirms
Gloucester TB-positive alpaca destroyed, Defra confirms

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has confirmed a Gloucester-based alpaca that tested positive twice for bovine...