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.

Linden workers refuse to start shift in row over Covid-19 control measures
Linden workers refuse to start shift in row over Covid-19 control measures

As many as 60 workers are understood to have refused to start their shifts at the Linden Foods site in...

Covid-19 market disruption ‘serious concern’ for UK sheep sector
Covid-19 market disruption ‘serious concern’ for UK sheep sector

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has warned it is growing “more concerned by the day” about market prices and the...

25,000 new customers sign up to Milk & More in unprecedented surge
25,000 new customers sign up to Milk & More in unprecedented surge

The UK’s largest milk and grocery doorstep delivery service, Milk & More, has launched a new recruitment drive as new...

Pirbright begins testing potential Covid-19 vaccines on animals
Pirbright begins testing potential Covid-19 vaccines on animals

The UK’s Pirbright Institute is to begin testing new coronavirus vaccines on animals to help combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Working...

3-crop rule lifted in Northern Ireland for 2020
3-crop rule lifted in Northern Ireland for 2020

Growers in Northern Ireland have been granted a derogation to the crop diversification requirement of the Basic Payment Scheme for...

Arla Foods confirms hold for April milk price
Arla Foods confirms hold for April milk price

Arla Foods has announced it will hold on-account prices for conventional and organic milk for April 2020. However, a slight...

Farmers asked to safeguard agri contractors during pandemic
Farmers asked to safeguard agri contractors during pandemic

Farmers have been asked to do what they can to protect agricultural contractors as UK Government implements stricter ‘stay at...

Farmers asked to safeguard agri contractors during pandemic
Farmers asked to safeguard agri contractors during pandemic

Farmers have been asked to do what they can to protect agricultural contractors as UK Government implements stricter ‘stay at...

Peak District farmer assaulted by walker
Peak District farmer assaulted by walker

A farmer in Peak District has appealed for the UK to enter a total lockdown after he was reportedly punched...

Covid-19: Veterinary practices to open for emergency care only
Covid-19: Veterinary practices to open for emergency care only

UK veterinary practices will offer emergency care only as measures ramp up against the Covid-19 pandemic. In a joint statement,...

Covid-19: Farmers urged to have a plan in place in case they get sick
Covid-19: Farmers urged to have a plan in place in case they get sick

Northern Ireland farmers have been urged to make contingency plans for their farms in case they are infected with Covid-19...

Covid-19: Farmers urged to have a plan in place in case they get sick
Covid-19: Farmers urged to have a plan in place in case they get sick

Northern Ireland farmers have been urged to make contingency plans for their farms in case they are infected with Covid-19...

Department to continue farm inspections and TB testing in NI
Department to continue farm inspections and TB testing in NI

Departmental farm inspections and testing for bovine TB are set to continue in Northern Ireland, despite extreme lockdown measures across...

Department to continue farm inspections and TB testing in NI
Department to continue farm inspections and TB testing in NI

Departmental farm inspections and testing for bovine TB are set to continue in Northern Ireland, despite extreme lockdown measures across...

Operation Stock: Third man pleads guilty to illegal sheep butchery offences
Operation Stock: Third man pleads guilty to illegal sheep butchery offences

A third man has this week pleaded guilty to illegal sheep butchery offences as part of Operation Stock. Viorel Manu,...

Face-to-face teaching stops at NI’s agricultural college
Face-to-face teaching stops at NI’s agricultural college

Northern Ireland’s agricultural college – CAFRE – has ceased all face-to-face teaching and education programmes. The decision was made by DAERA...

Calls for ‘Land Army’ to fill UK labour shortfall for harvest
Calls for ‘Land Army’ to fill UK labour shortfall for harvest

Calls have been made for a modern ‘Land Army’ to help save harvests across the country as the agricultural industry...

Union launches employment service for labour shortage
Union launches employment service for labour shortage

Scotland’s farming union has launched a service to help fruit and vegetable growers recruit workers who have lost their jobs...