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.

‘Greening rules clarity means farmers can plan 2021 harvest with confidence’
‘Greening rules clarity means farmers can plan 2021 harvest with confidence’

Farmers in England will no longer be required to comply with complex rules around crop diversification, Ecological Focus Areas and...

NI council becomes first to pass motion for local food procurement
NI council becomes first to pass motion for local food procurement

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is urging more Northern Ireland councils to support their local food producers and businesses after...

Government to end 3-crop rule in England from 2021
Government to end 3-crop rule in England from 2021

Farmers in England are set to benefit from a reduced administrative burden next year, as the government plans to end...

TB: Minister Poots hints at plans to propose NI badger cull in the autumn
TB: Minister Poots hints at plans to propose NI badger cull in the autumn

Northern Ireland’s Minister of Agriculture Edwin Poots set out plans to formally include “wildlife intervention” in a new bovine TB...

Farm Business Innovation Show to proceed for 2020
Farm Business Innovation Show to proceed for 2020

Organisers of major agri-business exhibition, the Farm Business Innovation Show, say the show will go on for 2020. Scheduled for...

New UFU president: Let’s make common sense common again
New UFU president: Let’s make common sense common again

There was an element of bravado at the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) AGM today (July 25) as newly-elected president Victor Chestnutt...

New UFU deputy president tells members ‘we’re facing a wartime food challenge’
New UFU deputy president tells members ‘we’re facing a wartime food challenge’

Newly-elected Ulster Farmers’ Union deputy president William Irvine told members the UK is “facing a wartime food challenge” at the...

Live updates: UFU ‘drive-in’ AGM kicks off at Balmoral Park today
Live updates: UFU ‘drive-in’ AGM kicks off at Balmoral Park today

It might be more commonly associated with Northern Ireland’s flagship agricultural show – the Balmoral Show – but today (July...

Farm Safety Week: Farmers reminded to leave their phones down when driving
Farm Safety Week: Farmers reminded to leave their phones down when driving

Farmers and crofters are being asked to set down their mobiles this Farm Safety Week and take more care in...

Scotland’s ‘natural economy’ valued at over £29 billion a year
Scotland’s ‘natural economy’ valued at over £29 billion a year

A new report has defined and detailed for the first time the value of the ‘natural economy’ to Scotland’s overall...

Facemasks and temperature checks listed in new NI mart Covid protocols
Facemasks and temperature checks listed in new NI mart Covid protocols

Temperature checks and mask-wearing are to become mandatory in Northern Ireland livestock marts as part of the latest set of...

Organisers say CropTec is still on track to be a face-to-face event in 2020
Organisers say CropTec is still on track to be a face-to-face event in 2020

Organisers of UK arable show CropTec say the physical event is still set to go ahead for 2020. It comes...

‘Ground-breaking’ bovine TB vaccine trials to begin in England and Wales
‘Ground-breaking’ bovine TB vaccine trials to begin in England and Wales

‘Ground-breaking’ bovine TB vaccine trials are set to get underway in England and Wales as a result of a major breakthrough...

Farm Safety Week: Farming still Britain’s most deadly occupation
Farm Safety Week: Farming still Britain’s most deadly occupation

Figures released in time for Farm Safety Week reveal that while the numbers of people killed on Britain’s farms have...

Farmers encouraged to consider grain marketing plans as harvest gets underway
Farmers encouraged to consider grain marketing plans as harvest gets underway

With the Scottish harvest underway, the latest market update from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) suggests it is...

Small-scale pig keepers invited to take African swine fever survey
Small-scale pig keepers invited to take African swine fever survey

The UK government has launched a survey aimed at small-scale pig keepers today (July 20) as it steps up its...

Eustice slams ‘old EU model’ for failing to stop decline in biodiversity
Eustice slams ‘old EU model’ for failing to stop decline in biodiversity

Environment Secretary George Eustice slammed the EU’s environmental framework as having “too many reports but not enough action” as he...

Parades Commission gives NI’s first post-Covid tractor run the green light
Parades Commission gives NI’s first post-Covid tractor run the green light

A group of enthusiasts in Co. Down have got together to pull off Northern Ireland’s first official tractor run post-lockdown. Taking...