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.

Greenhouse Gas methodology changes means more bang for NI’s climate action efforts
Greenhouse Gas methodology changes means more bang for NI’s climate action efforts

Changes to how Greenhouse Gas emissions will be measured mean Northern Ireland will achieve a larger contribution to the UK’s...

Dairy cost of production index hits trigger point a second time this year
Dairy cost of production index hits trigger point a second time this year

An index measuring the dairy cost of production has hit its ‘trigger point’ for the second time this year. Marks...

NI protein crop pilot payments to be issued next week
NI protein crop pilot payments to be issued next week

Payments for Northern Ireland’s pilot protein crops scheme are set to begin next week. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and...

M&S commits to sustainable agriculture through 5-year programme
M&S commits to sustainable agriculture through 5-year programme

M&S has committed to sustainable agriculture through a new five-year collaborative programme designed to help its Select Farmers gain resilience...

‘Countryside COP’ to take place this week
‘Countryside COP’ to take place this week

An environmental conference taking place this week – Countryside COP – hopes to showcase and inspire actions to tackle the...

IFA rallies: Cullinan warns farmer anger is growing
IFA rallies: Cullinan warns farmer anger is growing

Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) president Tim Cullinan has said yesterday’s four regional rallies will have sent a clear message to...

New 4 Breeds Calf Show launched for NI
New 4 Breeds Calf Show launched for NI

Four of the North’s biggest continental beef breeds have joined forces to launch a new calf show event for Northern...

Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo raises £700,000 for children’s cancer charity
Rory’s Miles 2 Mayo raises £700,000 for children’s cancer charity

Ulster’s favourite farmer, Rory Best, has managed to raise more than £700,000 (€810,000) through a gruelling 180-mile challenge to support...

Entries open for 2021 Premier Beef and Lamb Championships
Entries open for 2021 Premier Beef and Lamb Championships

Livestock entries have opened for this year’s Premier Beef & Lamb Championships, as the event prepares to open to the...

NI farm trials to test willow’s ability to reduce methane emissions
NI farm trials to test willow’s ability to reduce methane emissions

Farm trials investigating the potential of willow to reduce livestock methane emissions are to begin in Northern Ireland in the...

1,500 support heifer ‘Hope’ and Air Ambulance NI fundraiser at Balmoral Show
1,500 support heifer ‘Hope’ and Air Ambulance NI fundraiser at Balmoral Show

Almost 1,500 people have supported a fundraiser for Air Ambulance Northern Ireland (NI) launched at this year’s Balmoral Show. Visitors...

Balmoral Show vaccine centre uptake revealed
Balmoral Show vaccine centre uptake revealed

Almost 150 people received their Covid-19 vaccine at an historic Balmoral Show this year. The show was held later than...

Compromise on the cards as DAERA Climate Bill passes second stage at Stormont
Compromise on the cards as DAERA Climate Bill passes second stage at Stormont

Compromise could be on the cards as the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ Climate Change Bill has passed...

Poots launches first-ever scheme to protect NI’s pollinators
Poots launches first-ever scheme to protect NI’s pollinators

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has launched Northern Ireland’s first-ever Rural Community Pollinator Scheme to protect the health of the egion’s...

UFU urges DAERA to act over NI’s pig sector pressures
UFU urges DAERA to act over NI’s pig sector pressures

Shoppers could see fewer of their favourite pork products on supermarket shelves this Christmas, while farmers struggle to cope with...

2021 Balmoral Show attendance ‘around two-thirds’ of normal turn-out
2021 Balmoral Show attendance ‘around two-thirds’ of normal turn-out

Attendance at this year’s Balmoral Show was “around two-thirds” of the usual turn-out, according to organisers. The show has boasted...

Eustice rules out nationalisation of UK CO2 production
Eustice rules out nationalisation of UK CO2 production

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Secretary George Eustice has ruled out any prospect of the government nationalising...

Balmoral Show: Several cattle leave show early after spate of respiratory infections
Balmoral Show: Several cattle leave show early after spate of respiratory infections

Several cattle have been taken home early from this year’s Balmoral Show after respiratory conditions, including pneumonia, were confirmed among...