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.

North-east cheese manufacturer trebles capacity with rural business grant
North-east cheese manufacturer trebles capacity with rural business grant

A northern cheese manufacturer has trebled its production capacity and created five new jobs thanks to a programme designed to...

Operation Stock: Charged pair change pleas to guilty
Operation Stock: Charged pair change pleas to guilty

Two men have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal in relation to the slaughter and illegal butchery of sheep and...

UK agri overhaul report sets 5 key goals to secure industry’s future
UK agri overhaul report sets 5 key goals to secure industry’s future

The agricultural sector and Government must work together to lead a radical transformation of British farming, according to a new...

NSA launches 2020 dog worrying survey
NSA launches 2020 dog worrying survey

The National Sheep Association has launched its 2020 dog worrying survey to gather data and inform its dog worrying campaign....

UK young shepherds head to European finals
UK young shepherds head to European finals

Seven young shepherds from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will travel to the European ‘Ovinpiades’ Young Shepherd Competition in...

Young hill farmer stars in £250,000 campaign
Young hill farmer stars in £250,000 campaign

An accomplished young farmer from the Ceiriog valley is starring in a nation-wide campaign promoting PGI Welsh Lamb and Welsh...

Storm Dennis: Vigilance advised ahead of weekend’s severe weather warnings
Storm Dennis: Vigilance advised ahead of weekend’s severe weather warnings

The Environment Agency is urging landowners and stock-keepers across England to sign up to flood warnings and to check the...

Farming reacts: Eustice appointed as new Defra Secretary
Farming reacts: Eustice appointed as new Defra Secretary

The UK’s farming bodies are urging the new Defra Secretary to seize opportunities for British farming. Just one day into...

Storm Dennis to bring heavy rain and gales to the UK
Storm Dennis to bring heavy rain and gales to the UK

Five yellow and amber weather warnings have been put in place across most of the UK on Saturday and six...

CAFRE invests £100,000 in NI’s first tractor simulators
CAFRE invests £100,000 in NI’s first tractor simulators

A new piece of kit at Greenmount College could make young safer tractor drivers – before they even set foot...

New Defra Secretary confirmed as Villiers is ousted
New Defra Secretary confirmed as Villiers is ousted

Prime Minister Boris Johnston has appointed a new Defra Secretary today after Theresa Villiers was ousted from the role just six...

New president steps up to take on dual BVA NI and NIVA role
New president steps up to take on dual BVA NI and NIVA role

The Northern Ireland Branch of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) have jointly...

New president steps up to take on dual BVA NI and NIVA role
New president steps up to take on dual BVA NI and NIVA role

The Northern Ireland Branch of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the North of Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) have jointly...

Six general licences reissued for the control of wild birds
Six general licences reissued for the control of wild birds

Defra has announced plans to reissue six general licences for the control of wild birds on a temporary basis before...

AHDB launches new series of Business Resilience workshops
AHDB launches new series of Business Resilience workshops

Following its popularity in 2019, AHDB and the NFU’s jointly-run ‘Fit for the Future’ workshops are back, bigger and better...

New UK traceability body Livestock Information Service appoints chairman
New UK traceability body Livestock Information Service appoints chairman

John Cross has been appointed the first chairman of a new body given responsibility for overhauling England’s livestock traceability systems....

Rural mental health campaign urges farmers to look after themselves
Rural mental health campaign urges farmers to look after themselves

The Farm Safety Foundation has launched its third annual Mind Your Head campaign this week. The campaign, which runs from...

151 flood alerts in place across England in wake of storms Ciara and Dennis
151 flood alerts in place across England in wake of storms Ciara and Dennis

More than 150 flood alerts remain in place across England as Storm Ciara passes. In Cumbria, nearly three-quarters of February’s rain...