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.

Truss insists ban on low-standard imports already has legal backing
Truss insists ban on low-standard imports already has legal backing

Assurances low-standard imports such as chlorinated chicken are already banned in the UK do not go far enough to protect...

First ‘Sheep Production Show’ to go live this weekend
First ‘Sheep Production Show’ to go live this weekend

A new virtual event is set to take place this weekend in place of the many cancelled to help sheep...

QMS to begin ‘gradual’ return to physical quality assurance inspections
QMS to begin ‘gradual’ return to physical quality assurance inspections

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has announced plans to launch a “gradual return” to physical inspections for priority members across its...

Major Welsh food wholesaler Castell Howell issues job loss warning
Major Welsh food wholesaler Castell Howell issues job loss warning

One of Wales’ biggest food wholesalers, Castell Howell, has warned it is facing the possibility of making major redundancies because...

Ribena to invest £500,000 in research to develop climate-resilient blackcurrant
Ribena to invest £500,000 in research to develop climate-resilient blackcurrant

The firm behind one of the UK’s most-loved berry drinks – Lucozade Ribena Suntory (LRS) – has invested over half...

Scots Brexit survey finds ‘3 main types of farmer’
Scots Brexit survey finds ‘3 main types of farmer’

Around three-quarters of Scottish farmers have a sceptical or pessimistic view of the industry post-Brexit, according to new analysis of a...

NSA announces new series webinars to keep sheep farmers informed
NSA announces new series webinars to keep sheep farmers informed

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has added a new series of webinars to its diary of virtual events. Topics for...

Virtual meeting offers online tours of innovative canola plots
Virtual meeting offers online tours of innovative canola plots

An online meeting will give an update of an innovative project exploring the possibility of growing organic oilseed rape (canola)...

CAFRE campuses to reopen in September
CAFRE campuses to reopen in September

Northern Ireland’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is set to resume face-to-face teaching in September. DAERA Minister, Edwin...

UK launches ‘bounce back plan’ for food and farming industries
UK launches ‘bounce back plan’ for food and farming industries

A spate of trade measures for the agriculture, food and drink industry has been announced today as part of a  “bounce...

QMS announces changes to pig assurance scheme standards
QMS announces changes to pig assurance scheme standards

Quality Meat Scotland has announced a series of changes to its pig quality assurance scheme, including changes to how often...

High-street butchers saw 50% sales increase during Covid-19 crisis
High-street butchers saw 50% sales increase during Covid-19 crisis

New retail figures have shown that consumers in their thousands have turned to high street butchers during the Covid-19 lockdown....

Young Farmers to go head-to-head at ‘virtual Highland’
Young Farmers to go head-to-head at ‘virtual Highland’

Four members of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) are hoping to impress viewers with their culinary talent...

Devon sausage-maker launches ‘first’ fully-compostable packaging
Devon sausage-maker launches ‘first’ fully-compostable packaging

A West Country sausage-maker has claimed to be the first meat producer to use packaging that is so environmentally-friendly, it...

AHDB launches Recommended Lists app
AHDB launches Recommended Lists app

AHDB has launched a new mobile phone app to provide a powerful and pint-sized way to deliver some of the...

130 stolen farm vehicles recovered in first 4 months of 2020
130 stolen farm vehicles recovered in first 4 months of 2020

Increased use of tracking security devices on tractors and quad bikes has helped Police Scotland recover stolen farm machinery worth...

Competition to put public’s Highland Show knowledge to the test
Competition to put public’s Highland Show knowledge to the test

The public’s Royal Highland Show knowledge is set to be put to the test this Friday in a family-friendly virtual...

UK and EU farmers united in call for free trade agreement
UK and EU farmers united in call for free trade agreement

Farming organisations from across the EU have joined the NFU in its call for an urgent breakthrough in trade talks...