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.

Scottish agri-tech collaboration offers alternative to random test digs
Scottish agri-tech collaboration offers alternative to random test digs

A 12-month agri-technology collaboration in the East of Scotland to trial new precision agriculture tools could offer potato growers an effective...

Scottish Government launches agricultural Covid loan scheme to boost cash flow
Scottish Government launches agricultural Covid loan scheme to boost cash flow

The Scottish government has launched a new loan scheme for farmers to allow help them maintain cash flow during the...

UK internal market paper to ‘enshrine unfettered access’ to Britain for Northern Ireland
UK internal market paper to ‘enshrine unfettered access’ to Britain for Northern Ireland

Plans to legislate for an even playing field in the UK’s internal market have been revealed by the UK government...

BASIS to offer online assessments for the first time
BASIS to offer online assessments for the first time

New technology which can replicate an exam hall environment remotely will allow agronomy education provider BASIS to offer candidates the...

‘Your Harvest’ campaign kicks off online for 2020
‘Your Harvest’ campaign kicks off online for 2020

Arable farmers are being asked to reach out to the public and MPs through social media to highlight the importance...

Vets urge government to rethink balance on new Trade and Agriculture Commission
Vets urge government to rethink balance on new Trade and Agriculture Commission

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has written to International Trade Secretary Liz Truss to raise what it described as “serious...

£2 million fund to grow Scottish forestry and farm businesses
£2 million fund to grow Scottish forestry and farm businesses

Scottish Forestry is making over £2 million available to tree nurseries, small forestry businesses and farmers to help them gear...

Covid-19: 73 people test positive on Herefordshire farm
Covid-19: 73 people test positive on Herefordshire farm

Up to 200 workers have been asked to stay on-site during a two-week isolation period at a farm in Herefordshire, following...

Members of UK’s new Trade and Agriculture Commission announced
Members of UK’s new Trade and Agriculture Commission announced

Retailers, farming unions, consumer, hospitality and environmental bodies from across the UK have been named as members of the Government’s...

Chancellor’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme offers hope of red meat sales boost
Chancellor’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme offers hope of red meat sales boost

Farming and rural bodies say they are hopeful unprecedented measures announced this week by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to kickstart the...

Tractor protesters take to London to ‘Save British Farming’
Tractor protesters take to London to ‘Save British Farming’

A group of protesters in tractors have taken to the streets of London today (July 8) calling on politicians to protect...

DAERA to cut number of farm inspections for 2020
DAERA to cut number of farm inspections for 2020

Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture has said it cut the number of inspections it plans to carry out for the 2020...

23 farmers selected for NI robotic research project
23 farmers selected for NI robotic research project

Twenty-three Northern Ireland dairy farmers have been selected for a research project examining efficient robotic systems. AgriSearch’s Robotic Milking Discussion...

DeLaval to acquire British cluster liner manufacturer milkrite
DeLaval to acquire British cluster liner manufacturer milkrite

Swedish milking parlour maker DeLaval has today announced plans to take over Wiltshire-founded cluster parts manufacturer milkrite | InterPuls. The...

UK sugar beet growers to receive first ever market-linked bonus pay-outs
UK sugar beet growers to receive first ever market-linked bonus pay-outs

Sugar beet growers across the UK are set to receive a market-linked bonus later this year, after EU average sugar...

Free BVD testing to be extended until 2021 in Wales
Free BVD testing to be extended until 2021 in Wales

Free BVD (Bovine viral diarrhoea) testing for cattle farmers in Wales has been extended until March 31, 2021. The testing,...

4 more cases of African swine fever confirmed in Poland
4 more cases of African swine fever confirmed in Poland

The risk of African swine fever to the UK has been kept at ‘medium’ and farmers advised to remain vigilant...

Guest speakers unveiled for UFU ‘drive-in’ AGM
Guest speakers unveiled for UFU ‘drive-in’ AGM

Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture Edwin Poots and DAERA Committee chairman Declan McAleer have been confirmed as guest speakers for...