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.

Stormont stalemate: 8 Department of Agriculture decisions awaiting ministerial sign-off
Stormont stalemate: 8 Department of Agriculture decisions awaiting ministerial sign-off

Eight policy decisions within Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) await ministerial sign-off because of the...

Former director of environment named new DAERA permanent secretary
Former director of environment named new DAERA permanent secretary

A former civil service director of environment, Denis McMahon, has been appointed as the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural...

Soil analysis shows much work to be done on improving soil condition
Soil analysis shows much work to be done on improving soil condition

Land is the most limiting and expensive resource on dairy farms but only half of Northern Irish soils analysed this...

Nitrates Derogation: 5 questions you need to consider
Nitrates Derogation: 5 questions you need to consider

Grainne McCarney from the crops and sustainability development branch at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) answers...

Tyrone AD plant becomes first in the UK to earn industry certification
Tyrone AD plant becomes first in the UK to earn industry certification

A Co. Tyrone anaerobic digestion (AD) plant has become the first in the UK to be certified under a scheme...

Wool Board nominations set for election as Buchanan ends 12-year tenure
Wool Board nominations set for election as Buchanan ends 12-year tenure

Two Northern Ireland sheep farmers have been nominated to replace outgoing British Wool Board chairman Ian Buchanan as the Northern...

Stormont stalemate tightens grip on Northern farms
Stormont stalemate tightens grip on Northern farms

Farmers have voiced their frustration that decisions affecting some of Northern Ireland’s biggest agricultural issues have been put on the...

TB crisis: Northern Ireland’s 11 main strains mapped out
TB crisis: Northern Ireland’s 11 main strains mapped out

Scientists have used advanced techniques to identify around 11 main TB strains in Northern Ireland. While the disease – which...

Pioneering vet backed by Brian May to speak at NI TB conference
Pioneering vet backed by Brian May to speak at NI TB conference

A vet whose pioneering research into bovine TB has been backed by militant animal rights activist Queen guitarist Brian May...

This week on Rare Breed: TB testing, a rejected calf and collecting semen
This week on Rare Breed: TB testing, a rejected calf and collecting semen

TB testing, a rejected calf and semen collection all feature on this week’s episode of ‘Rare Breed’. The second episode...

Farmers urged to take extra care when mixing slurry
Farmers urged to take extra care when mixing slurry

With the closed period for spreading slurry coming to an end at midnight on January 31, the Health and Safety...

Department accused of using ‘flawed science’ to measure NI ammonia emissions
Department accused of using ‘flawed science’ to measure NI ammonia emissions

Getting a true picture of ammonia emissions in Northern Ireland remains one of the “biggest challenges” for the agri-food industry...

Mega farming: Meet the southern Australia family managing 2,300 cattle
Mega farming: Meet the southern Australia family managing 2,300 cattle

Just two months ago Co. Down dairy farmer Heather Martin found out she would take part in the trip of...

Department launches new online BPS entitlement register
Department launches new online BPS entitlement register

A new online entitlement register service is now available on DAERA Online Services, which allows farmers or their agents to...

Slurry export deadline extended in NI
Slurry export deadline extended in NI

Northern Ireland farmers now have an extra month to submit their slurry export forms as Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA)...

‘Everyone wants to be more environmentally responsible; but we have to keep our farmers farming’
‘Everyone wants to be more environmentally responsible; but we have to keep our farmers farming’

Every farmer wants to do more for the environment, but future farming policy must prioritise supporting efficient and profitable production,...

Further movement restrictions announced for BVD-status cattle
Further movement restrictions announced for BVD-status cattle

Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI) and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs have announced further measures...

Bird flu prevention zone extended to cover whole of England
Bird flu prevention zone extended to cover whole of England

A bird flu prevention zone has been declared across the whole of England, chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens has confirmed...