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.

Metaldehyde ban: Alternatives event planned for north-east farmers
Metaldehyde ban: Alternatives event planned for north-east farmers

With the ban on UK growers’ favourite slug control method  – metaldehyde – coming into force next spring, Soil Association...

Survival mode: New report sets out harrowing impacts of a ‘hard Brexit’
Survival mode: New report sets out harrowing impacts of a ‘hard Brexit’

New Brexit modelling highlights the urgent need for farmers to take action to ensure their businesses survive, showing as much...

Brazil battles dairy industry’s bull calf woes
Brazil battles dairy industry’s bull calf woes

A marketing drive to encourage Brazilian dairy farmers to rear their bull calves for beef is battling to make steps...

Hitting 1,000 cows in Brazil’s dairy capital
Hitting 1,000 cows in Brazil’s dairy capital

Within 50 years, the Epp family has gone from 50 cows to 1,000 on their farm outside Castro, Brazil. The...

6 things you need to know about Brazilian agriculture
6 things you need to know about Brazilian agriculture

As Brazil eyes up the UK market post-Brexit, AgriLand’s Rachel Martin investigates the country’s agricultural sector and what farmers in...

Following the trail: Where does the soya in your feed come from?
Following the trail: Where does the soya in your feed come from?

If your feed ration includes soya beans, there’s a fairly significant chance the seed from which it was grown was...

Brazilian producers race to ramp up traceability and sustainability as Brexit nears
Brazilian producers race to ramp up traceability and sustainability as Brexit nears

Growers and producers in Brazil have already begun extensive work to ramp up their standards in a bid to crack...

280 ewes lambed in 3 weeks off the shores of Lough Neagh
280 ewes lambed in 3 weeks off the shores of Lough Neagh

Armagh part-time farmer John McKavanagh has just enjoyed the tightest lambing yet with all 280 Lleyn ewes heading back to...

280 ewes lambed in 3 weeks off the shores of Lough Neagh
280 ewes lambed in 3 weeks off the shores of Lough Neagh

Armagh part-time farmer John McKavanagh has just enjoyed the tightest lambing yet with all 280 Lleyn ewes heading back to...

ViVet to host first student veterinary innovation competition
ViVet to host first student veterinary innovation competition

A new competition aimed at veterinary students aims to find the next big idea in animal health. The student innovation...

More than 2,700 Defra staff tied up in Brexit matters
More than 2,700 Defra staff tied up in Brexit matters

More than 2,700 Defra staff members are currently tied up in EU and Brexit related matters according to information made...

Northern Ireland’s top agri-food firms celebrated at NI Food and Drink Awards
Northern Ireland’s top agri-food firms celebrated at NI Food and Drink Awards

More than 400 guests turned out in style to celebrate the achievements of our leading food and drink companies at...

Northern Ireland’s top agri-food firms celebrated at NI Food and Drink Awards
Northern Ireland’s top agri-food firms celebrated at NI Food and Drink Awards

More than 400 guests turned out in style to celebrate the achievements of our leading food and drink companies at...

Additional £22 million to boost Welsh food and drink industry
Additional £22 million to boost Welsh food and drink industry

The Welsh food and drink industry will receive a £22 million funding boost to help the sector thrive after Brexit....

Cornwall unveils plans to develop England’s first Farming Health Hub
Cornwall unveils plans to develop England’s first Farming Health Hub

Plans have been unveiled to set up a new Farming Health Hub in Cornwall to provide a single source of...

7,000 farms sign up to eradicate BVD in Wales
7,000 farms sign up to eradicate BVD in Wales

A meeting of the partners in the Wales-wide Gwaredu BVD programme has heard that 7,000 farms in Wales are now...

Fullwood announces acquisition of Dutch dealer network
Fullwood announces acquisition of Dutch dealer network

Shropshire-based milking parlour manufacturer Fullwood Packo has announced plans to take over a Dutch dealer network. Mewitec BV is a...

Moy Park to ditch all non-recyclable packaging by 2025
Moy Park to ditch all non-recyclable packaging by 2025

UK poultry giant Moy Park has launched an ambitious campaign to slash the use of plastics and packaging across its...