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 agricultural census to go paperless for the first time in 174-year history
NI agricultural census to go paperless for the first time in 174-year history

Northern Ireland’s Annual Agricultural and Horticultural Census is set to go completely online for the first time in its 174-year...

First Milk holds milk price for July 2020
First Milk holds milk price for July 2020

UK dairy co-operative First Milk has announced it will hold its current milk price for July 2020. This means its...

Largest UK organic on-farm event goes digital
Largest UK organic on-farm event goes digital

The UK’s biggest organic on-farm conference, OF&G National Organic Combinable Crops (NOCC), is taking place virtually this year. The virtual...

UFU ‘drive-in’ AGM decision expected this week
UFU ‘drive-in’ AGM decision expected this week

Executive members of the Ulster Farmers’ Union are expected to make a decision over the next few days on whether...

NI Minister of Agriculture raises a glass to World Milk Day
NI Minister of Agriculture raises a glass to World Milk Day

Northern Ireland’s dairy sector joined their counterparts around the globe on World Milk Day (June 1) in raising a glass...

Welsh agri-tech firm secures £750,000 to scale its AI technology across the UK
Welsh agri-tech firm secures £750,000 to scale its AI technology across the UK

Aberystwyth based agri-tech firm Agxio has secured £750,000 in an investment round to support the development of its advanced data...

Child airlifted and 5 others injured in crash involving tractor and silage trailer
Child airlifted and 5 others injured in crash involving tractor and silage trailer

Five people have been injured and a child airlifted to hospital following an incident involving a tractor drawing a silage...

HSENI launches farm safety poster competition following recent incidents involving children
HSENI launches farm safety poster competition following recent incidents involving children

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has launched a poster competition for children to promote farm safety...

Agricultural university students launch their own rose wine
Agricultural university students launch their own rose wine

Students at the Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) have launched a new rosé version of their award-winning Cotswold Hills wine. RAU’s...

Report claims cattle in US recieve 8-9 times more antibiotics than in UK
Report claims cattle in US recieve 8-9 times more antibiotics than in UK

A new report by a group encouraging farmers to reduce their antibiotic use, claims that US livestock received on average...

NI farm lobby body warns against June start date for farm inspections
NI farm lobby body warns against June start date for farm inspections

A group representing three Northern Ireland farming bodies has warned against recommencing on-farm inspections on June 8. Northern Ireland Farm...

NI Minister of Agriculture to review pause on routine inspections
NI Minister of Agriculture to review pause on routine inspections

Routine departmental farm inspections could soon resume in Northern Ireland, as Minister of Agriculture Edwin Poots outlines steps to review...

New president appointed for UK flour millers’ association
New president appointed for UK flour millers’ association

A milling industry stalwart who has worked his way up in the industry since the age of 14 has become...

RSPCA announces 3-phase plan to relaunch on-farm inspections
RSPCA announces 3-phase plan to relaunch on-farm inspections

The Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) has announced it will begin a three-phased approach to relaunching its...

UK food and drink exports down £700 million in first quarter
UK food and drink exports down £700 million in first quarter

British food and drink exports fell by over £700 million over the first quarter of 2020, according to analysis published...

Plans unveiled for £3.8 million National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise
Plans unveiled for £3.8 million National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise

Plans have been unveiled to establish a new national centre to support enterprise, resilience and innovation among rural firms across...

Pembrokeshire farmer to succeed Jim Baird as First Milk farmer director
Pembrokeshire farmer to succeed Jim Baird as First Milk farmer director

First Milk has today announced that it has appointed Pembrokeshire farmer Mike Smith will join its board as its new...

Beeswax Dyson to establish year-round British strawberry supply
Beeswax Dyson to establish year-round British strawberry supply

Innovative British farming company Beeswax Dyson Farming has joined the UK’s leading berry and cherry co-operative to help deliver fresh...