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.

‘Simplified’ Countryside Stewardship scheme opens for 2021 applications
‘Simplified’ Countryside Stewardship scheme opens for 2021 applications

Applications for the Countryside Stewardship (CS) scheme have opened today (February 11), offering the chance for more farmers to be...

Sugar beet could make return to Scotland after almost 50 years
Sugar beet could make return to Scotland after almost 50 years

Almost 50 years on from the closure of the Scottish Sugar Beet factory in Cupar, a rural innovation group aims...

Pair sentenced for theft of £30,000 of livestock in North East Scotland
Pair sentenced for theft of £30,000 of livestock in North East Scotland

Two men have been found guilty of the theft of nearly £30,000 of livestock in the north-east of Scotland. Lloyd Fowlie...

New range of PGI Welsh Beef launched across all 50 regional Aldi stores
New range of PGI Welsh Beef launched across all 50 regional Aldi stores

Supermarket chain Aldi has announced plans to stock PGI Welsh Beef across all of its 50 Welsh stores from February...

Smaller hogg carryover and trade rebalancing boosting prime sheep prices
Smaller hogg carryover and trade rebalancing boosting prime sheep prices

The Scottish sheep market is warming up as farmgate hogg prices are up 21% higher than last year. It’s 26%...

NI applications invited for this study tour to Britain
NI applications invited for this study tour to Britain

Northern Ireland dairy farmers have the chance to see for themselves how two large Yorkshire enterprises manage their staffing and...

Storm Ciara: Amber and yellow warnings in force across the UK
Storm Ciara: Amber and yellow warnings in force across the UK

The Met Office has issued several National Severe Weather Warnings for strong winds and heavy rain brought by Storm Ciara...

UK farms expected to increase nitrogen use following wet winter
UK farms expected to increase nitrogen use following wet winter

It’s expected British arable farmers will need to apply more nitrogen to crops this year, following an exceptionally wet winter...

Government announces support for Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill in Parliament
Government announces support for Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill in Parliament

Those who mistreat animals could face up to five years in prison under a new law backed by the UK...

Half of UK farmers turning to diversification to support incomes after Brexit
Half of UK farmers turning to diversification to support incomes after Brexit

Almost half of the UK’s farmers (48%) are planning to set up or expand diversification schemes – a figure which...

Half of UK farmers turning to diversification to support incomes after Brexit
Half of UK farmers turning to diversification to support incomes after Brexit

Almost half of the UK’s farmers (48%) are planning to set up or expand diversification schemes – a figure which...

UK Government sets out low-tariff trade proposals in new Global Tariff Policy
UK Government sets out low-tariff trade proposals in new Global Tariff Policy

Key details of how the UK’s future trade tariff schedule could look have been revealed today (February 6), as the...

UK potato businesses urged to ditch CIPC ahead of use-up date
UK potato businesses urged to ditch CIPC ahead of use-up date

The Potato Industry CIPC Stewardship Group (PICSG) has warned potato growers and buyers against applying sprout suppressant Chlorpropham (CIPC) at...

Farmers most likely to turn to vets for mental health support
Farmers most likely to turn to vets for mental health support

New research has shown that out of all the rural professionals they work with, UK farmers are most likely to...

New Scottish Women in Agriculture group established
New Scottish Women in Agriculture group established

Following on from the recent publication of the Scottish Government’s Women in Agriculture Task Force report, the industry group Women...

AgriSearch to launch robotic milking system research project
AgriSearch to launch robotic milking system research project

Northern Ireland researchers are seeking to recruit 25 dairy farmers from using robotic milking systems for an upcoming research project....

AgriSearch to launch robotic milking system research project
AgriSearch to launch robotic milking system research project

Northern Ireland researchers are seeking to recruit 25 dairy farmers from using robotic milking systems for an upcoming research project....

New expression of interest window opens for Hill Ram Scheme
New expression of interest window opens for Hill Ram Scheme

Welsh hill farmers have a second chance to join an innovative sheep genetic-improvement scheme, one year on from its launch...