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 farmers urged to avail of UK self-employment scheme
NI farmers urged to avail of UK self-employment scheme

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has encouraged members whose businesses have been affected by Covid-19 to apply for the second...

Agri-tech ‘hackathon’ seeks solutions to Covid-19’s impact on farming
Agri-tech ‘hackathon’ seeks solutions to Covid-19’s impact on farming

Registration is now open for an agri-tech ‘hackathon’ aimed at developing technological solutions to problems posed by Covid-19. Winners will...

Armagh farmer in induced coma after shed beam accident
Armagh farmer in induced coma after shed beam accident

A man in his 40s crushed by a steel beam on an Armagh farm remains in a critical condition in...

AHDB Petitioners claim ballot provides ‘mandate for change’
AHDB Petitioners claim ballot provides ‘mandate for change’

A ‘grower’s ballot’ of almost 2,000 horticulture and potato levy-payers shows the majority of growers view the Agricultural & Horticultural Development...

Clyde Valley farming partnership awarded £90,000 to protect wading birds
Clyde Valley farming partnership awarded £90,000 to protect wading birds

A project involving 17 farmers in the Upper Clyde Valley has been awarded £90,000 to expand its work improving farmland...

Rural bodies calls for Scottish government to clamp down on fly-tipping
Rural bodies calls for Scottish government to clamp down on fly-tipping

Two of Scotland’s rural bodies have joined forces to write to Holyrood calling for a series of measures to stave...

Welsh farmer to raffle off one-of-a-kind hide chair for RABI
Welsh farmer to raffle off one-of-a-kind hide chair for RABI

A Welsh cattle farmer and leatherworker, has set her sights on raising £5,000 for The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI)...

2t of meat waste dumped in Lanarkshire burn
2t of meat waste dumped in Lanarkshire burn

A Lanarkshire farmer has been faced the disgusting discovery of 2t of waste from a meat processing site dumped on...

HSENI to take new approach to farm safety messaging
HSENI to take new approach to farm safety messaging

Northern Ireland’s Health and Safety Executive (HSENI) is to take a simpler and snappier approach to its farm safety campaign....

NFU Cymru calls for Housing Minister to encourage use of wool in construction
NFU Cymru calls for Housing Minister to encourage use of wool in construction

NFU Cymru has written to the Welsh Government calling for the introduction of new measures to increase the use of...

English and Royal Welsh winter fairs cancelled
English and Royal Welsh winter fairs cancelled

Organisers have been forced to cancel this year’s English Winter Fair and Royal Welsh Winter Fair as part of the...

EFS grants: Farmers urged to be aware of what they are agreeing to
EFS grants: Farmers urged to be aware of what they are agreeing to

Northern Ireland farmers considering signing up to the latest round of the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) are urged to be mindful...

Just 55 farms receive support from Government’s Dairy Response Fund
Just 55 farms receive support from Government’s Dairy Response Fund

Just 55 dairy farms in England have received Covid-19 support money from the Government’s Dairy Response Fund so far, according to the...

NI Agriculture Minister and agri committee chairman visit Antrim farms and bogland
NI Agriculture Minister and agri committee chairman visit Antrim farms and bogland

Northern Ireland’s agriculture minister and agriculture committee chairman made good on promises to meet with farmers to discuss solutions to...

RAU signs agreement with 15,000ac Bathurst Estate
RAU signs agreement with 15,000ac Bathurst Estate

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has struck an innovative new partnership with Gloucestershire’s Bathurst Estate. The deal will provide students and...

Dale Farm records £12.2 million profits for 2019-2020
Dale Farm records £12.2 million profits for 2019-2020

Northern Ireland dairy cooperative chief executive Nick Whelan has commended a “solid” year’s performance as Dale Farm records profits of £12.2...

Agricultural shed contractor receives support for smart tech investment
Agricultural shed contractor receives support for smart tech investment

A fifth-generation manufacturer and contractor of steel framed agricultural buildings has secured funding to digitise its operations, becoming one of...

Belfast study shows even minimal mycotoxin levels impact broiler performance
Belfast study shows even minimal mycotoxin levels impact broiler performance

Breakthrough nutritional research carried out in Belfast has unveiled a direct link between even minimal levels of mycotoxins and poultry...