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.

Final preparations underway for socially-distanced Beef and Lamb tomorrow
Final preparations underway for socially-distanced Beef and Lamb tomorrow

Final preparations are underway at Balmoral Park for Northern Ireland’s first socially-distanced agricultural show; The Royal Ulster Premier Beef and Lamb...

RUAS ‘to review’ 2021 Balmoral Show date
RUAS ‘to review’ 2021 Balmoral Show date

Balmoral Show organisers, the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS), have confirmed they are already considering postponing the 2021 event, AgriLand...

DAERA launches ‘Major Emergency Response Plan’ as Brexit preparations hit critical stage
DAERA launches ‘Major Emergency Response Plan’ as Brexit preparations hit critical stage

Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a ‘Major Emergency Response Plan’ as Brexit preparations...

Irish Grass-Fed Beef PGI to include Northern Ireland in cover letter
Irish Grass-Fed Beef PGI to include Northern Ireland in cover letter

Northern Ireland could be included in a cover letter on the Republic of Ireland’s application for PGI status for Irish...

Marts and agricultural supply shops to stay open as NI announces further restrictions
Marts and agricultural supply shops to stay open as NI announces further restrictions

Livestock marts and agricultural supply shops have been included on the exemption list to stay open as Northern Ireland enters...

NI stakeholders warn of potential objection to Irish Grass-Fed Beef PGI
NI stakeholders warn of potential objection to Irish Grass-Fed Beef PGI

Northern Irish agricultural industry leaders have warned they could object to the Republic’s Grass-Fed PGI application should it persist in...

New antibiotic benchmarking tool to be rolled out across NI in early 2021
New antibiotic benchmarking tool to be rolled out across NI in early 2021

A Northern Ireland research initiative into antibiotic usage has shown “early promising results”, with initial indications suggesting it has “considerable potential”...

RSPB NI launches 5-point ‘Green Recovery Plan’ for Covid-19
RSPB NI launches 5-point ‘Green Recovery Plan’ for Covid-19

Investing in Northern Ireland’s natural environment has a “vitally important” role to play in the economic recovery from Covid-19, according...

Two-thirds of speed-related deaths in NI took place on rural roads
Two-thirds of speed-related deaths in NI took place on rural roads

Over two-thirds of people killed in speed-related crashes in Northern Ireland in the last five years were killed on rural...

Lakeland Dairies to launch new fixed-price contract
Lakeland Dairies to launch new fixed-price contract

Lakeland Dairies has plans to launch a new three-year fixed-price milk contract, AgriLand can reveal. The price will remain unchanged...

Avian Influenza detected in wild swan in Northern Ireland
Avian Influenza detected in wild swan in Northern Ireland

A wild swan found dead at Lough Beg, Co. Derry, has tested positive for avian influenza, Northern Ireland’s Department of...

Poots launches £300,000 Rural Social Economy Investment Scheme for NI
Poots launches £300,000 Rural Social Economy Investment Scheme for NI

Northern Ireland Rural Affairs Minster Edwin Poots has announced a £300,000 capital grant scheme to help rural social enterprises increase...

Calls for urgent TB roundtable talks as FFA warns ‘farmers have suffered enough’
Calls for urgent TB roundtable talks as FFA warns ‘farmers have suffered enough’

Farmers For Action has warned Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture not to use Brexit transition deadlines as “an excuse” to...

‘Real, concrete’ discussions underway for proposed NI veterinary school
‘Real, concrete’ discussions underway for proposed NI veterinary school

Plans to establish a veterinary school in Northern Ireland may finally come to fruition as pressure mounts up for the department...

NI farmers to be repaid EU Crisis Reserve money by the end of December
NI farmers to be repaid EU Crisis Reserve money by the end of December

Northern Ireland farmers are set to see a Christmas boost to their bank accounts as the Department of Agriculture, Environment...

Calls for Westminster to protect access for NI freight travelling via Dublin
Calls for Westminster to protect access for NI freight travelling via Dublin

Northern Ireland Economy Minister Diane Dodds has urged the UK Government to ensure unfettered access for Northern Ireland freight travelling...

Further avian influenza cases confirmed in wild birds in England
Further avian influenza cases confirmed in wild birds in England

A further three cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been confirmed in wild birds in Stroud, Gloucestershire, according to the Animal and Plant...

Date set for NFU Cymru’s Vision for Welsh Upland Farming Conference
Date set for NFU Cymru’s Vision for Welsh Upland Farming Conference

Farmers across Wales are invited to virtually attend NFU Cymru’s Vision for Welsh Upland Farming Conference. The event will take...