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.

Poots launches £800,000 environmental fund for NI
Poots launches £800,000 environmental fund for NI

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced an £800,000 fund to support environmental projects across Northern Ireland. The fund is available...

Canada’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair cancelled for 2020
Canada’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair cancelled for 2020

Canada’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has become the latest major industry event to fall victim to the Covid-19 pandemic. The...

Rural Support joins Covid-19 mental health action group
Rural Support joins Covid-19 mental health action group

Agricultural mental health charity Rural Support has joined a coalition of charities working to help communities cope with the stress...

Rural Support joins Covid-19 mental health action group
Rural Support joins Covid-19 mental health action group

Agricultural mental health charity Rural Support has joined a coalition of charities working to help communities cope with the stress...

Rural Support joins Covid-19 mental health action group
Rural Support joins Covid-19 mental health action group

Agricultural mental health charity Rural Support has joined a coalition of charities working to help communities cope with the stress...

Truss insists ban on low-standard imports already has legal backing
Truss insists ban on low-standard imports already has legal backing

Assurances low-standard imports such as chlorinated chicken are already banned in the UK do not go far enough to protect...

First ‘Sheep Production Show’ to go live this weekend
First ‘Sheep Production Show’ to go live this weekend

A new virtual event is set to take place this weekend in place of the many cancelled to help sheep...

QMS to begin ‘gradual’ return to physical quality assurance inspections
QMS to begin ‘gradual’ return to physical quality assurance inspections

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has announced plans to launch a “gradual return” to physical inspections for priority members across its...

Major Welsh food wholesaler Castell Howell issues job loss warning
Major Welsh food wholesaler Castell Howell issues job loss warning

One of Wales’ biggest food wholesalers, Castell Howell, has warned it is facing the possibility of making major redundancies because...

Ribena to invest £500,000 in research to develop climate-resilient blackcurrant
Ribena to invest £500,000 in research to develop climate-resilient blackcurrant

The firm behind one of the UK’s most-loved berry drinks – Lucozade Ribena Suntory (LRS) – has invested over half...

Scots Brexit survey finds ‘3 main types of farmer’
Scots Brexit survey finds ‘3 main types of farmer’

Around three-quarters of Scottish farmers have a sceptical or pessimistic view of the industry post-Brexit, according to new analysis of a...

NSA announces new series webinars to keep sheep farmers informed
NSA announces new series webinars to keep sheep farmers informed

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has added a new series of webinars to its diary of virtual events. Topics for...

Virtual meeting offers online tours of innovative canola plots
Virtual meeting offers online tours of innovative canola plots

An online meeting will give an update of an innovative project exploring the possibility of growing organic oilseed rape (canola)...

CAFRE campuses to reopen in September
CAFRE campuses to reopen in September

Northern Ireland’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is set to resume face-to-face teaching in September. DAERA Minister, Edwin...

CAFRE campuses to reopen in September
CAFRE campuses to reopen in September

Northern Ireland’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is set to resume face-to-face teaching in September. DAERA Minister, Edwin...

UK launches ‘bounce back plan’ for food and farming industries
UK launches ‘bounce back plan’ for food and farming industries

A spate of trade measures for the agriculture, food and drink industry has been announced today as part of a  “bounce...

QMS announces changes to pig assurance scheme standards
QMS announces changes to pig assurance scheme standards

Quality Meat Scotland has announced a series of changes to its pig quality assurance scheme, including changes to how often...

High-street butchers saw 50% sales increase during Covid-19 crisis
High-street butchers saw 50% sales increase during Covid-19 crisis

New retail figures have shown that consumers in their thousands have turned to high street butchers during the Covid-19 lockdown....