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.

UK’s first post-Brexit farming scheme unveiled
UK’s first post-Brexit farming scheme unveiled

The Environment Secretary has today announced that the ‘Payment by Results’ (PBR) project will be the first agri-environment scheme directly...

Agricultural drought summit sets agenda for Government action
Agricultural drought summit sets agenda for Government action

The farming industry leaders, Government officials and Secretary of State Michael Gove came together this morning for the National Farmers’...

DAERA launches consultation on post-Brexit agricultural policy for Northern Ireland
DAERA launches consultation on post-Brexit agricultural policy for Northern Ireland

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is to engage with the wider farming, food and environmental sectors...

DAERA launches consultation on post-Brexit agricultural policy for Northern Ireland
DAERA launches consultation on post-Brexit agricultural policy for Northern Ireland

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is to engage with the wider farming, food and environmental sectors...

Rural support for green watchdog – but warnings to drop the complexity
Rural support for green watchdog – but warnings to drop the complexity

Rural land managers have warned that to deliver for the environment successfully, any new ‘green watchdog’ must not add extra...

Milk to feed price ratio tracks below 5-year average
Milk to feed price ratio tracks below 5-year average

After hitting a record high in October 2017, the milk to feed price ratio (MFPR) has been in decline ever...

Farmers For Action walk out of Ammonia Stakeholder Forum
Farmers For Action walk out of Ammonia Stakeholder Forum

A Northern Ireland farm lobby group has said that a number of “intolerable” issues and “lack of independent advice” have caused...

New drone regulations under discussion…what’s being weighed up?
New drone regulations under discussion…what’s being weighed up?

Soon to be made official drone regulations could see users required to formally file flight plans in advance and even include...

Northern Ireland Environmental Farming Scheme inspections underway
Northern Ireland Environmental Farming Scheme inspections underway

Inspections for Northern Ireland’s Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) farms are about to begin. Participants will have already claimed for the...

Half a million boost for nitrogen and sulphur cereals research
Half a million boost for nitrogen and sulphur cereals research

Two new AHDB cereals research projects on nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) management in oats and wheat have been bolstered...

Post-drought grass patience could pay longer term dividends
Post-drought grass patience could pay longer term dividends

Farmers have been encouraged to keep their stock off pastures until grass is as close as possible to the optimum...

BVA’s animal welfare charity seeks 2 farm vets for board
BVA’s animal welfare charity seeks 2 farm vets for board

An animal welfare charity founded by members of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) is looking to recruit two trustees to...

BBC Radio 4 accused of striking ‘wrong tone’ at The Game Fair
BBC Radio 4 accused of striking ‘wrong tone’ at The Game Fair

BBC Radio 4 has been accused of reducing rural matters to an “absurdly simplistic binary” on its ‘Today’ programme broadcast...

Antibiotic use targets: What’s the latest in your sector?
Antibiotic use targets: What’s the latest in your sector?

Several of the UK’s farming sectors are well on their way to meeting key antibiotics targets according to the latest...

Nominations open for 2 major Scottish farming awards
Nominations open for 2 major Scottish farming awards

The search is on to find the very best beef and sheep farms in Scotland for two high-profile farming awards....

RCVS named one of the UK’s best workplaces for women
RCVS named one of the UK’s best workplaces for women

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has been recognised as one of the best UK workplaces for women, according...

Harper Adams teams with global drone and robotics giant
Harper Adams teams with global drone and robotics giant

The National Centre for Precision Farming (NCPF) at Harper Adams University has teamed up with XAG, one of the world’s largest drone...

New record price achieved at Bank Farm Lleyn on-farm ram sale
New record price achieved at Bank Farm Lleyn on-farm ram sale

Bidders set a new record price of 3,400gn at Bank Farm flock sale over the weekend. The flock’s third on-farm sale...