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.

Barbara Bray: Supply chain surpluses are ‘low-hanging fruit’ in food inequality challenge
Barbara Bray: Supply chain surpluses are ‘low-hanging fruit’ in food inequality challenge

Stresses on ‘just-in-time’ food supply chains caused by Covid-19 could spur change in how modern retailers factor in unsold produce...

Walkers crisps to convert waste potato peel into low-carbon fertiliser for growers
Walkers crisps to convert waste potato peel into low-carbon fertiliser for growers

UK crisp firm Walkers has joined forces with a clean-tech firm to create low-carbon fertiliser from its waste potato peelings...

New ‘Beacon Farm Network’ to include 50 NI farms
New ‘Beacon Farm Network’ to include 50 NI farms

Northern Ireland agricultural research body AgriSearch has warned farmers they must develop ways to prove and communicate their sustainability credentials...

New Müller scheme to incentivise collaboration, herd health and environment goals
New Müller scheme to incentivise collaboration, herd health and environment goals

Dairy giant Müller has launched a new programme to help UK farmers improve supply chain collaboration, herd health and their...

2020 NI animal inventory to be carried out online
2020 NI animal inventory to be carried out online

The Annual Animal Inventories will be completed entirely online this year due to Covid-19, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and...

Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister admitted to hospital
Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister admitted to hospital

Northern Ireland Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots is recovering in hospital following emergency surgery on Sunday (December...

New test for Johne’s disease branded ‘game-changer’ for farmers
New test for Johne’s disease branded ‘game-changer’ for farmers

A promising new test for Johne’s Disease in dairy cattle has the potential to ramp up eradication efforts, offering fewer...

‘Focus on Farmers’ Christmas special to focus on agricultural productivity
‘Focus on Farmers’ Christmas special to focus on agricultural productivity

AgriSearch’s ‘Focus on Farmers’ webinar series will end the year with a “Christmas special” focusing on improving agricultural productivity for...

Chinese exports to leave from Cranswick’s NI plant in next 2 weeks
Chinese exports to leave from Cranswick’s NI plant in next 2 weeks

The first consignments of pork from Cranswick’s primary processing facility in Northern Ireland are expected to leave for China over...

Avian Influenza Prevention Zone to be declared in Northern Ireland from midnight
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone to be declared in Northern Ireland from midnight

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) will come into effect in Nothern Ireland from midnight tonight (December 1). The AIPZ...

NI Water pledges to plant 1 million trees in 10 years
NI Water pledges to plant 1 million trees in 10 years

Northern Ireland’s second-largest landowner, NI Water, has pledged to plant one million trees over the next 10 years. The large-scale...

Risk of losing Quality Assurance leads to ‘significant drop’ in BVD animals in NI
Risk of losing Quality Assurance leads to ‘significant drop’ in BVD animals in NI

The number of herds in Northern Ireland retaining BVD PI animals has “fallen dramatically” since toughened eradication measures were introduced...

Minister Poots launches NI’s first-ever Clean Air Strategy
Minister Poots launches NI’s first-ever Clean Air Strategy

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has encouraged everyone to play their part in improving air quality and reducing the number of...

Chinese exports temporarily suspended from Cranswick’s NI site
Chinese exports temporarily suspended from Cranswick’s NI site

Pork giant Cranswick has said it is hoping to recommence Chinese exports from its Northern Ireland site imminently. The firm...

Cranswick reveals £8.2 million spend on Covid-19 measures
Cranswick reveals £8.2 million spend on Covid-19 measures

Pork giant Cranswick spent more than £8 million implementing Covid-19 measures and had to stockpile key ingredients out of fear...

Winter Fair Online to reveal first ‘Champion of the Decade’
Winter Fair Online to reveal first ‘Champion of the Decade’

The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) has announced plans to mark the date of its flagship dairy show online, showcasing...

DAERA to take responsible antibiotics use courses online
DAERA to take responsible antibiotics use courses online

Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has had to take its responsible antibiotics use courses online...

NI dairy research project to improve welfare and production in robotic systems
NI dairy research project to improve welfare and production in robotic systems

A new PhD research project co-funded AgriSearch will aim to understand dairy cow behaviour to improve production and welfare in...