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.

£20 million Scotbeef facility given the green light
£20 million Scotbeef facility given the green light

An abattoir development described as “absolutely pivotal” for the future of livestock farmers in the north-east has been given the green...

Could you be one of NFU’s new faces of British farming?
Could you be one of NFU’s new faces of British farming?

A group of enthusiastic young farmers, who are making a real difference within farming and have great stories to tell,...

Countryside Alliance slams BBC for ‘relentless bias’
Countryside Alliance slams BBC for ‘relentless bias’

Rural lobby group Countryside Alliance has submitted evidence to Ofcom’s review of the BBC, highlighting what it perceives as a...

Bird flu: Chief vet stresses importance of biosecurity as third bird tests positive
Bird flu: Chief vet stresses importance of biosecurity as third bird tests positive

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) today confirmed that a second wild greylag goose, found in Lurgan...

Sisters dubbed ‘farming heroes’ after tragedy strikes on their Shetland farm
Sisters dubbed ‘farming heroes’ after tragedy strikes on their Shetland farm

Two sisters who took on the running of their Shetland island family farm after their father passed away have been...

Defra Secretary and Brexit Minister to attend Royal Highland Show
Defra Secretary and Brexit Minister to attend Royal Highland Show

Four of the Government’s most senior politicians have confirmed they will attend the Royal Highland Show this week. The UK...

Arla senior vice president named as new UK director
Arla senior vice president named as new UK director

Leading European dairy co-operative, Arla Foods has announced Ash Amirahmadi, senior vice president – sales for the UK, will take the lead...

‘Robots will support, not replace, growers in the future’
‘Robots will support, not replace, growers in the future’

Cobots – robots that work with humans, rather than replace them – is the future of high-tech horticultural production, according...

Union urges councillors to back £20 million Scotbeef plans
Union urges councillors to back £20 million Scotbeef plans

NFU Scotland has written to Aberdeenshire councillors asking them to back the Scotbeef planning proposals for development at Thainstone, Inverurie....

Welsh union to put forward UK agricultural framework ideas
Welsh union to put forward UK agricultural framework ideas

Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) president Glyn Roberts has raised concerns over the “stark contrast” between discussions on the future...

Report: Lim summer sale up by more than £400 on 2017
Report: Lim summer sale up by more than £400 on 2017

Following on from a strong sale period in early May, all eyes descended on Carlisle on Friday, June 15, for...

Final year of NI ‘Test and Vaccinate or Remove’ badger project gets under way
Final year of NI ‘Test and Vaccinate or Remove’ badger project gets under way

The fifth and final year of the department’s Test and Vaccinate or Remove (TVR) Wildlife Intervention Research Project commenced today...

Multi-million pound boost for crop resilience
Multi-million pound boost for crop resilience

Research centres working to improve crop resilience, sustainability and quality have been granted £5.3 million of Government funding. The package, which...

£2 million Brexit support deal for Welsh red meat sector
£2 million Brexit support deal for Welsh red meat sector

A multi-million-pound package of support to help the Welsh agri-food industry prepare for Brexit has been confirmed by First Minister...

Farmers’ Union of Wales AGM kicks off today in Aberystwyth
Farmers’ Union of Wales AGM kicks off today in Aberystwyth

First Minister Carwyn Jones is among the speakers set to take to the stage this afternoon as the keynote speaker...

Ukrainian officials take part in GB fact-finding visit
Ukrainian officials take part in GB fact-finding visit

Food safety specialists from Ukraine gained a valuable insight into the work of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)...

Father and son hospitalised in slurry accident
Father and son hospitalised in slurry accident

Two north-west men have been airlifted to hospital following a slurry accident on a farm in Claudy, Co. Derry yesterday...

Milk Price: Processors told 30p/L ‘attainable’
Milk Price: Processors told 30p/L ‘attainable’

National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) has welcomed positive milk price moves in recent weeks – however, the organisation said it...