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.

Number of BVD PI cattle retained falls below 200 in NI for the first time
Number of BVD PI cattle retained falls below 200 in NI for the first time

The number of retained BVD-positive animals in Northern Ireland has fallen below 200 for the first time. Figures from July...

£350,000 robot to carry out Johne’s testing for NMR
£350,000 robot to carry out Johne’s testing for NMR

National Milk Records (NMR) has invested £350,000 in a state-of-the-art robotic machine that will be integrated into the ELISA testing...

Holstein UK elects new president and trustees
Holstein UK elects new president and trustees

Members of Holstein UK have elected a Shropshire dairy farmer as their new president. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place...

In detail: What’s your share of DAERA’s £25 million Covid fund?
In detail: What’s your share of DAERA’s £25 million Covid fund?

Northern Ireland’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots has announced how he plans to divvy up a £25 million...

FUW members re-elect presidential team at virtual council meeting
FUW members re-elect presidential team at virtual council meeting

Members of the Farmers’ Union of Wales have re-elected their presidential team at a special virtual meeting of the union’s council....

Mixed messages from autumn agricultural show organisers
Mixed messages from autumn agricultural show organisers

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has had to cancel its annual flagship event for October 2020. However, organisers of a major...

‘More robust’ Rainforest Alliance standard to address ‘climate-smart’ agriculture and child labour
‘More robust’ Rainforest Alliance standard to address ‘climate-smart’ agriculture and child labour

New standards unveiled for the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainability certification tackle some of the darkest issues affecting agriculture in developing countries, such as child...

BVA: Vets must be at the heart of new Trade and Agriculture Commission
BVA: Vets must be at the heart of new Trade and Agriculture Commission

A professional body representing over 18,000 UK vets has urged the government to put veterinary professionals and animal welfare science...

Truss announces plans for new UK Trade and Agriculture Commission
Truss announces plans for new UK Trade and Agriculture Commission

UK International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has today (June 29) announced that the Government has agreed to establish a Trade and...

Covid-19: 2020 UK Dairy Day cancelled
Covid-19: 2020 UK Dairy Day cancelled

Organisers have been forced to call off one of the UK’s biggest dairy industry events. UK Dairy Day was planned...

North Wales creamery invests £600,000 in low-emission fleet
North Wales creamery invests £600,000 in low-emission fleet

A North Wales creamery has invested £600,000 in new low-emission lorries in a bid to reduce the firm’s carbon footprint....

NI real-time pig software shortlisted for a digital transformation award
NI real-time pig software shortlisted for a digital transformation award

Innovative software designed in Northern Ireland to drive efficiency in the local pig industry has been shortlisted for a prestigious...

Researchers say technology to analyse chicks’ chirps could improve welfare
Researchers say technology to analyse chicks’ chirps could improve welfare

Listening to the sounds made by chicks could help identify welfare problems at an early stage, according to new research...

Agri-business views sought new ‘T-Level’ training courses
Agri-business views sought new ‘T-Level’ training courses

Farm owners and managers are being asked to help shape a new education programme which aims to develop home-grown talent...

British Wool denied access to UK coronavirus support fund
British Wool denied access to UK coronavirus support fund

Farmers unions across the UK have urged their retrospective governments to intervene after British Wool was refused access to a...

Poots launches £800,000 environmental fund for NI
Poots launches £800,000 environmental fund for NI

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced an £800,000 fund to support environmental projects across Northern Ireland. The fund is available...

Canada’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair cancelled for 2020
Canada’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair cancelled for 2020

Canada’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has become the latest major industry event to fall victim to the Covid-19 pandemic. The...

Rural Support joins Covid-19 mental health action group
Rural Support joins Covid-19 mental health action group

Agricultural mental health charity Rural Support has joined a coalition of charities working to help communities cope with the stress...