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.

Parliamentary report on small abattoirs recommends series of government interventions
Parliamentary report on small abattoirs recommends series of government interventions

Small abattoirs make a vital contribution to both the rural economy and animal welfare, according to a new report published...

Harrogate vintage machinery sale cancelled
Harrogate vintage machinery sale cancelled

One of the UK’s most notable vintage machinery auctions has become the latest victim of the Covid-19 pandemic. Making the...

Winter wheat yields forecast to be down 12% in 2020
Winter wheat yields forecast to be down 12% in 2020

An artificial intelligence system has used satellite data to forecast a reduction in UK winter-sown crops. As a result, it’s...

Sunniest spring on record leads to bumper crop of British strawberries
Sunniest spring on record leads to bumper crop of British strawberries

The sunniest UK spring on record has led to a bumper crop of extra sweet British strawberries with many growers...

1,000 Lincolnshire hare coursing incidents reported in just 7 months
1,000 Lincolnshire hare coursing incidents reported in just 7 months

Police in Lincolnshire have said more than 1,000 hare coursing incidents were reported across the county over a period of...

Armagh farmer killed in telehandler accident
Armagh farmer killed in telehandler accident

Police have confirmed an Armagh farmer has died following a telehandler incident on his farm in Keady on Saturday (June...

Armagh farmer killed in telehandler accident
Armagh farmer killed in telehandler accident

Police have confirmed an Armagh farmer has died following a telehandler incident on his farm in Keady on Saturday, June...

NI’s biggest drug seizure found hidden behind veg in refrigerated lorry
NI’s biggest drug seizure found hidden behind veg in refrigerated lorry

Three men have been arrested after 600kg of cannabis was found hidden among a lorry load of vegetables. The find...

UK meat exporters look for opportunities outside China as competition heats up
UK meat exporters look for opportunities outside China as competition heats up

Delegates to the first AHDB export webinar were told that work has begun to secure opportunities outside China as international...

Scotland’s pig industry launches 6-point plan to ‘reset, restart and recover’
Scotland’s pig industry launches 6-point plan to ‘reset, restart and recover’

Pig farmers in Scotland have set out a list of six priorities to map out how they plan to “reset,...

Chairman appointed to new Ruminant Health and Welfare Group
Chairman appointed to new Ruminant Health and Welfare Group

Former farmers’ union president Nigel Miller has been appointed as the chairman of the newly-formed Ruminant Health and Welfare Group...

QMS strikes 3-year deal with benchmarking firm
QMS strikes 3-year deal with benchmarking firm

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has announced it has struck a three-year deal with a new provider of on-farm production recording...

NSA calls for Government-sponsored Countryside Code ad campaign
NSA calls for Government-sponsored Countryside Code ad campaign

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is calling for the Government to launch a campaign to promote the Countryside Code to...

QMS launches new Sustainable Red Meat Action Groups
QMS launches new Sustainable Red Meat Action Groups

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has launched a series of new groups to bring together livestock farmers who are keen to...

UK growers expect a healthy 2020 cherry season
UK growers expect a healthy 2020 cherry season

The UK is primed for a strong cherry season, with around 6,000t of home-grown British cherries predicted to hit supermarket...

UK potato industry launches £100,000 campaign to increase comsumption
UK potato industry launches £100,000 campaign to increase comsumption

Hot potato ‘Bud the Spud’ will make his television debut this summer as part of a £100,000 marketing push. AHDB...

Calls for detail on dairy hardship funds amid fears some could lose out
Calls for detail on dairy hardship funds amid fears some could lose out

A lobby body representing UK dairy farmers has warned some farmers who have had to discard of their milk could...

UK pig industry antibiotic use plateaus as dysentery challenges herd health
UK pig industry antibiotic use plateaus as dysentery challenges herd health

The latest antibiotic usage figures for the UK pig industry show that levels remain unchanged last year, despite significant disease...