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.

Gronw Herd dispersal sale tops at 5,000gns
Gronw Herd dispersal sale tops at 5,000gns

Strong crowds turned out for the dispersal sale of John and Heather Phillips’ Gronw Limousin Herd at Whitland Livestock Market...

Agricultural data research group acquires firm behind Hands-Free Hectare
Agricultural data research group acquires firm behind Hands-Free Hectare

Leading agricultural insight provider Map of Ag has acquired Precision Decisions, the firm behind Harper Adams’ Hands-Free Hectare, in a...

NFU agrees 6 principles to deliver best Brexit outcome for British farmers
NFU agrees 6 principles to deliver best Brexit outcome for British farmers

An extraordinary meeting of the National Farmers’ Union Council this week has agreed six principles that will guide the union...

Review slams ‘pernickety and nonsensical’ approach to farm inspections
Review slams ‘pernickety and nonsensical’ approach to farm inspections

An independent review into farm inspections and regulation has concluded that the current approach is too inflexible, outdated and does...

Farmers hit BVD low risk status milestone, says UFU
Farmers hit BVD low risk status milestone, says UFU

The Ulster Farmers’ Union says Northern Ireland’s farming industry has achieved a “significant milestone” in its BVD eradication efforts. it...

Potato production hits lowest level since 2012
Potato production hits lowest level since 2012

The total British potato harvest is down 13% on the five-year average of 5.6 million tonnes, according to the annual Agriculture...

Auditor General for Wales calls for ‘greater scrutiny’ of the RDP
Auditor General for Wales calls for ‘greater scrutiny’ of the RDP

A report published by the Auditor General for Wales has reviewed how the Welsh Government has been managing the risks...

Muller completes largest investment in Scottish dairy processing in a decade
Muller completes largest investment in Scottish dairy processing in a decade

A £15 million project to substantially upgrade Scotland’s largest fresh milk dairy in Bellshill and secure 265 jobs has had...

New study to research ideal size for livestock
New study to research ideal size for livestock

A new research project is aiming to improve production efficiency in the UK by enabling farmers to determine the optimum...

New calculator to show how farmers can mitigate ammonia emissions
New calculator to show how farmers can mitigate ammonia emissions

A new online calculator and guidance has been developed to help farmers and others to design woodlands to capture airborne...

Farm fined £40,000 after worker severely injured in fall from height
Farm fined £40,000 after worker severely injured in fall from height

A family run farming business has today been fined after an employee sustained severe injuries following a fall from height....

Findings of Quarantine Unit review published
Findings of Quarantine Unit review published

Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths, has published the recommendations of a review into the Quarantine...

Alltech cuts the ribbon on new UK office
Alltech cuts the ribbon on new UK office

Global animal nutrition firm, Alltech has cut the ribbon on its new UK offices in the East of England. The...

UK summer drought 30 times more likely due to climate change
UK summer drought 30 times more likely due to climate change

Human-induced climate change has made the 2018 record-breaking UK summer about 30 times more likely to occur than it would...

Meat, potatoes and dairy could tap into Halloween popularity
Meat, potatoes and dairy could tap into Halloween popularity

Dairy, red meat and potato processors could do more to benefit from the increased popularity of Halloween among British consumers....

£80 million boost announced for Welsh farm environmental schemes
£80 million boost announced for Welsh farm environmental schemes

Over £80 million of funding has been granted for environmental farm support programmes in Wales, Environment Secretary Lesley Griffith announced today....

Support needed for struggling small abattoirs to install CCTV
Support needed for struggling small abattoirs to install CCTV

A support fund is urgently needed for struggling small abattoirs in the UK to install CCTV in order to comply...

Climage change: ‘Farmers deserve our support, not our criticism’
Climage change: ‘Farmers deserve our support, not our criticism’

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has reacted against growing criticism of the UK livestock industry over claims that it is...