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.

FUW backs Hilary Benn amendment to Brexit withdrawal deal
FUW backs Hilary Benn amendment to Brexit withdrawal deal

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has thrown its weight behind an amendment to the UK Government’s EU withdrawal deal...

Bluetongue detected in cow imported from France
Bluetongue detected in cow imported from France

Farmers have been urged to remain vigilant after Bluetongue was detected in Northern Ireland in a heifer imported from France....

Two-thirds of 2018 BPS payments made on the first day
Two-thirds of 2018 BPS payments made on the first day

More than 65% of farmers have received their 2018 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) money in the first day of the...

2018 sees national dairy calf registration trends reverse
2018 sees national dairy calf registration trends reverse

The latest calf registration figures have shown recent dairy calving trends reversed during the challenging year of 2018. The previous...

Levy bodies take first step promoting sustainability of UK beef and lamb
Levy bodies take first step promoting sustainability of UK beef and lamb

Three meat levy bodies have jointly commissioned a new project to pave the way for a sustainability framework for beef...

BVD rates fall 25% in Northern Ireland
BVD rates fall 25% in Northern Ireland

The number of individual Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) cases in Northern Ireland has fallen by 25% in less than two years,...

World Soil Day: A third of global soils are already degraded
World Soil Day: A third of global soils are already degraded

The UN has called for urgent action to stop soil pollution, noting that a third of global soils are already...

Newcomers and quality lead the way at the Winter Stock Festival
Newcomers and quality lead the way at the Winter Stock Festival

This year’s East of England Winter Stock Festival in Peterborough saw a strong selection of well turned out animals. Experienced...

Government rejects Northumberland lynx reintroduction
Government rejects Northumberland lynx reintroduction

Plans to reintroduce lynx into a forest in Northumberland have been scrapped by Defra. The Lynx UK Trust had put forward...

British sheep meat to head to India in new export deal
British sheep meat to head to India in new export deal

A new export deal for British sheep meat could be worth as much as £6 million to the industry over...

Survey launched to improve neonatal survival
Survey launched to improve neonatal survival

Increasing profitability for farmers through improved lamb and calf survival is the key focus of a new project involving British...

Unions publish list of measures to help farms survive extreme weather
Unions publish list of measures to help farms survive extreme weather

The NFU and NFU Cymru have urged the Government to introduce a number of farm resilience measures to combat extreme...

Industry urges Recommended Lists to look beyond headline yields
Industry urges Recommended Lists to look beyond headline yields

A new, flexible variety trialling system that looks beyond the headline yields of the country’s top cereal crops is required...

Welsh afforestation plans could drive 1,400 farming families off the land
Welsh afforestation plans could drive 1,400 farming families off the land

The burden of decarbonisation should not fall unequally on Wales’ farming community, the NFU Cymru Rural Affairs Board has warned....

New circular economy Food Producers’ Fund to fund Scottish farm efficiency
New circular economy Food Producers’ Fund to fund Scottish farm efficiency

Scottish Conservatives has announced it will redirect unspent money from the existing Circular Economy Investment Fund to support farm efficiency...

Newly recommended hybrid barley varieties broadens grower choice
Newly recommended hybrid barley varieties broadens grower choice

With hybrid barley now accounting for around 34% of the UK winter feed barley area, the addition of two new...

Deadline approaching for 2018 Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme
Deadline approaching for 2018 Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme

Eligible farmers and crofters are reminded to apply to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) before the deadline of...

AHDB completes £1.3 million sale of MLCSL
AHDB completes £1.3 million sale of MLCSL

A total of £1.3 million will be reinvested in the beef and lamb and pork sectors as the Agriculture and...