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.

DAERA relaxes restrictions for herds overdue TB tests
DAERA relaxes restrictions for herds overdue TB tests

Northern Ireland’s Minister of Agriculture Edwin Poots has relaxed herd restrictions for herds overdue their TB tests. The decision comes...

AgriWebb to host UK’s first ever ‘Digital Farm Walk’
AgriWebb to host UK’s first ever ‘Digital Farm Walk’

Plans are well underway for the UK’s first ‘digital farm walk’. Hosted by AgriWebb, the event will take place on Wednesday,...

Scotch Beef and Lamb promoted to 1.4 million Scots this Easter
Scotch Beef and Lamb promoted to 1.4 million Scots this Easter

With Easter set to be very different from usual for many families in Scotland, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has partnered...

Scottish retailers to lift lockdown restrictions on dairy products
Scottish retailers to lift lockdown restrictions on dairy products

Supermarkets are beginning to lift restrictions on dairy products following pressure from the farmers’ union in Scotland. The past three...

UK Farming Recovery Fund extended to 4 more counties
UK Farming Recovery Fund extended to 4 more counties

Defra’s Farming Recovery Fund has been extended to allow applications from farmers in four more English counties. On March 20,...

NFU launches lockdown learning initiative for home education
NFU launches lockdown learning initiative for home education

A new homeschooling project launched this week by the National Farmers’ Union hopes to inspire and educate children about food...

Farmers urged to reduce risks as Northern Ireland’s Air Ambulance is grounded
Farmers urged to reduce risks as Northern Ireland’s Air Ambulance is grounded

Farmers in Northern Ireland have been urged to take extra measures to reduce their risk of an accident while working....

RABDF seeks Government support to prevent widespread dairy disruption
RABDF seeks Government support to prevent widespread dairy disruption

Dairy farmers are calling on the Government to help fund a short-term financial support scheme for farmers severely affected by...

Minister Poots meets with retailers over Polish beef imports
Minister Poots meets with retailers over Polish beef imports

Northern Ireland’s Minister of Agriculture Edwin Poots has met with retailers to voice his concerns over Polish beef imports. Farmers...

Matchmaking service seeks to pair ‘angels’ with farmers in need
Matchmaking service seeks to pair ‘angels’ with farmers in need

With potential shortfalls in the agricultural labour force imminent, the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society has released a call to arms...

UFU presidential officeholders to maintain current positions
UFU presidential officeholders to maintain current positions

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) Executive Committee has agreed that the organisation’s current presidential team will remain in office for...

UFU presidential officeholders to maintain current positions
UFU presidential officeholders to maintain current positions

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) Executive Committee has agreed that the organisation’s current presidential team will remain in office for...

UK farmers forced to dump milk as Covid-19 knocks processing capacity
UK farmers forced to dump milk as Covid-19 knocks processing capacity

Farmers in parts of England say they have been asked to dump their milk as processors struggle to work through...

NFU Mutual launches £32 million industry support package
NFU Mutual launches £32 million industry support package

A £32 million support package to support agriculture through Covid-19 has been made available by rural insurer NFU Mutual. The...

UK’s first online-only livestock auction to take place next week
UK’s first online-only livestock auction to take place next week

The catalogue is already published and plans are well underway for the UK’s first-ever totally virtual livestock sale. The lockdown has...

Butchery WorldSkills UK competition deadline extended
Butchery WorldSkills UK competition deadline extended

The deadline for the 2020 heats of a competition to find the UK’s best butcher has been extended. The closing...

Study suggests humans transported badgers from Britain to Ireland
Study suggests humans transported badgers from Britain to Ireland

A new study into badger genetics has shown those from the north-eastern and south-eastern counties of Ireland share genetics with badgers...

Retailers slammed for importing 400t of Polish meat during Covid-19 boom
Retailers slammed for importing 400t of Polish meat during Covid-19 boom

Angered producers have accused a major beef processor and two retailers of “underhand tactics” amid revelations the firm has imported...