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.

Changes to NI General Licences under review
Changes to NI General Licences under review

Changes proposed for Northern Ireland's General Licences include the removal of six species of wild birds. General licences are used...

Changes to CAFRE fees likely to impact families of migrant workers most
Changes to CAFRE fees likely to impact families of migrant workers most

New legislation introduced as a result of Brexit could cut students out of agri-food education in Northern Ireland. The new...

FFA discusses cost of production based pricing with Sir Peter Kendall
FFA discusses cost of production based pricing with Sir Peter Kendall

Proposals for legislation to establish cost-of-production linked pricing for farm produce have fallen flat with the author of an independent...

Unite: Solution to farm labour shortage is simple
Unite: Solution to farm labour shortage is simple

One of Northern Ireland's biggest unions has warned agricultural employers they must pay their workers more if they want to...

NI’s draft TB strategy goes before Agriculture Committee in closed session
NI’s draft TB strategy goes before Agriculture Committee in closed session

MLAs heard the first details of Northern Ireland's new strategy to tackle bovine TB on Thursday (July 8) - but...

Farm Safety Week: The onus is on us to make sure kids are safe
Farm Safety Week: The onus is on us to make sure kids are safe

Farmers and contractors have been warned that the onus is on them to ensure children are kept safe on farms....

Linden Foods profits up 17% over 2020
Linden Foods profits up 17% over 2020

Linden Foods group profits are up 17% compared to the year before, its latest financial ccounts have shown. Accounts for...

NI BVD maps: Where is your nearest PI animal?
NI BVD maps: Where is your nearest PI animal?

Maps showing the extent of Northern Ireland's battle with Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) have been published in a bid to...

Farm families health check van hits the road again
Farm families health check van hits the road again

The Farm Families health check van has hit the road again as Covid restrictions ease. West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer,...

Dairy Council NI launches new 3-year Sustainable Dairy Programme
Dairy Council NI launches new 3-year Sustainable Dairy Programme

The Dairy Council for Northern Ireland is it to take part in a new three-year sustainable dairy programme. The programme,...

Consultation opens for NI’s first-ever Rural Policy Framework
Consultation opens for NI’s first-ever Rural Policy Framework

A public consultation has opened on Northern Ireland’s first-ever Rural Policy Framework. The framework aims to create a sustainable rural...

UFU tells Ag Committee Climate Change Bill 1 would be ‘more detrimental than any trade deal’
UFU tells Ag Committee Climate Change Bill 1 would be ‘more detrimental than any trade deal’

Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) president Victor Chestnutt has slammed targets set in the private member's Climate Change Bill as "complete...

Industry reveals radical plans for NI’s new suckler and sheep support
Industry reveals radical plans for NI’s new suckler and sheep support

Radical proposals for future farm support for suckler and sheep farmers have been put forward by Northern Ireland's farming industry....

Leatherjacket survey launched to drive mitigation efforts
Leatherjacket survey launched to drive mitigation efforts

An industry survey hopes to identify the extent of the leatherjacket challenge for Northern Ireland grassland farmers. The survey is...

What does Climate Change Bill (No. 2) have in store for NI?
What does Climate Change Bill (No. 2) have in store for NI?

The first details have emerged of Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture's Climate Change Bill. Referred to in Stormont documents as...

UK urged to act over EU plans to relax animal protein feed ban
UK urged to act over EU plans to relax animal protein feed ban

A Northern Ireland peer has demanded the UK intervene over changes to EU law that would allow processed animal protein...

NI’s second Climate Change Bill passes first stage at Stormont
NI’s second Climate Change Bill passes first stage at Stormont

Northern Ireland's second Climate Change Bill has officially passed its First Stage at Stormont. The bill has been drafted by...

Farm groups commission Climate Change Bill impact assessment report
Farm groups commission Climate Change Bill impact assessment report

Northern Ireland's agricultural industry has commissioned an impact assessment report to evaluate how ambitions for Northern Ireland to achieve net-zero...