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 farm walk to explore potential of multi-species swards for beef and sheep
NI farm walk to explore potential of multi-species swards for beef and sheep

Through a farm walk in Northern Ireland, beef and sheep farmers will have the opportunity to see for themselves how...

£2.7 million of North West flooding support payments to begin this week
£2.7 million of North West flooding support payments to begin this week

Payments totalling £2.7 million to support farm businesses affected by the flooding and landslides in the North West in 2017...

Climate Bill: ‘We’ve been accused of scaremongering but the facts speak for themselves’
Climate Bill: ‘We’ve been accused of scaremongering but the facts speak for themselves’

Agricultural leaders have stood by their stark warnings about Northern Ireland's Climate Change Bill after an independent report has found...

Climate Bill to cost NI farming £11 billion
Climate Bill to cost NI farming £11 billion

Aiming for net-zero by 2045 could result in the loss of 13,000 farming jobs in Northern Ireland at a cost...

Agriculture Committee learns about ‘scientific approach’ to greener farming in Co. Tyrone
Agriculture Committee learns about ‘scientific approach’ to greener farming in Co. Tyrone

Members of Stormont's Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs committee visited a farm in Co. Tyrone to see for themselves the...

Rural boiler owners urged to respond to OFGEM letters
Rural boiler owners urged to respond to OFGEM letters

Farmers and rural business owners with RHI boilers that received a letter from the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets...

Minister opens fifth EFS round during Co. Down farm visit
Minister opens fifth EFS round during Co. Down farm visit

Northern Ireland Agriculture and Environment Minister Edwin Poots has opened applications for the fifth round of the Environmental Farming Scheme...

IPCC: Warming effect of methane likely to be significantly overstated
IPCC: Warming effect of methane likely to be significantly overstated

The global warming effect of methane could be overestimated by as much as three or four times, according to a...

NI to host Climate Summit ahead of COP26
NI to host Climate Summit ahead of COP26

Northern Ireland politicians have agreed to hold a Climate Summit ahead of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The...

Industry committed to re-establishing Scotland’s seed potato trade with Europe
Industry committed to re-establishing Scotland’s seed potato trade with Europe

Industry leaders have said they will push to reinstate Scotland’s valuable seed potato trade with Europe at the opening of...

Oxford Farming Conference’s Breaking Barriers Scholarship to return for second year
Oxford Farming Conference’s Breaking Barriers Scholarship to return for second year

The Oxford Farming Conference has announced the return of its Breaking Barriers Scholarship for a second year. The programme, which was...

3,000 eligible for NI’s wool payment yet to apply
3,000 eligible for NI’s wool payment yet to apply

Around 3,000 Northern Ireland farmers eligible for the department's Covid-19 support payment for wool have yet to apply despite the...

Women in Dairy reveals 2021 Dairy Industry Woman of the Year finalists
Women in Dairy reveals 2021 Dairy Industry Woman of the Year finalists

Three finalists have been selected for this year’s Dairy Industry Woman of the Year Award. Run as part of the...

Farm walks kickstart in NI with Habitat TDF visits
Farm walks kickstart in NI with Habitat TDF visits

The department is set to recommence in-person training events with a series of farm walks across Northern Ireland later this...

Foyle Food Group profits up £4 million in 2020
Foyle Food Group profits up £4 million in 2020

Northern meat processor Foyle Food Group saw a £4 million increase in pre-tax profits over the last year despite "challenging"...

Further £4.3 million to back for NI environmental projects
Further £4.3 million to back for NI environmental projects

25 Northern non-profit organisations are to benefit from £4.3 million from the latest round of the Department of Agriculture Environment...

Rural isolation key theme for NI’s ‘Uniting Opportunities’ programme
Rural isolation key theme for NI’s ‘Uniting Opportunities’ programme

Rural isolation is to be one of seven core issues tackled as part of a new wave of Northern Ireland's...

UK to invest £10.5 million in research projects to improve resilience of woodlands
UK to invest £10.5 million in research projects to improve resilience of woodlands

Six research teams across the UK have been awarded £10.5 million to develop new tools and approaches to trees and...