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.

YFCU roadshows to feature business consultants, land mobility and valuation experts
YFCU roadshows to feature business consultants, land mobility and valuation experts

Several rural experts will travel to a series of events across Northern Ireland to discuss the issue of land mobility,...

‘Northern Ireland’s share of farm payments should be ring-fenced’
‘Northern Ireland’s share of farm payments should be ring-fenced’

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson has said he has “many concerns” surrounding the future of farm payments in Northern Ireland....

Ammonia plan to be completed within 12 months – but legislative changes will need a minister
Ammonia plan to be completed within 12 months – but legislative changes will need a minister

A formal ammonia plan for tackling Northern Ireland’s spiralling emissions is expected to be completed before the end of the...

If the Brexit vote happened today, UK agriculture would vote ‘remain’
If the Brexit vote happened today, UK agriculture would vote ‘remain’

More than two-thirds of those in British agriculture would vote to remain if the UK’s EU Referendum took place now,...

Slurry petition calls for end to ‘calendar farming craziness’
Slurry petition calls for end to ‘calendar farming craziness’

Approximately 2,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the slurry ban to be scrapped in Northern Ireland. The...

Pics: Tractor driver in near miss at ‘The Cut’
Pics: Tractor driver in near miss at ‘The Cut’

Motorists were left stunned after a tractor driver hauling bales of straw appeared to have had a narrow miss with...

Brucellosis testing regime to be relaxed further
Brucellosis testing regime to be relaxed further

The brucellosis testing programme in Northern Ireland will be relaxed further, bringing significant benefits and savings for our farmers and...

New TB board ‘TBEP’ on the hunt for two farming representatives
New TB board ‘TBEP’ on the hunt for two farming representatives

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) today launched a competition to appoint seven members to its new...

Meet the Ulster farmers set to appear on this year’s Rare Breed
Meet the Ulster farmers set to appear on this year’s Rare Breed

The latest series of hit agricultural show ‘Rare Breed – A Farming Year’ is set to return to screens across...

How more than 100 Scottish farmers pooled together for fairer prices
How more than 100 Scottish farmers pooled together for fairer prices

A group of farmers in Scotland, who banded together to negotiate the first post Milk Marketing Board milk price contract,...

CAFRE cows to welcome visitors on dairy open days
CAFRE cows to welcome visitors on dairy open days

Upcoming College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) open dairy days will focus on six main themes, including: feed...

‘Ammonia recommendations highlight need to work together’
‘Ammonia recommendations highlight need to work together’

Department officials have said the ammonia recommendations made this week highlight the “need for the government and agri-food sector to...

Attention to detail, management time and running costs: Don’t buy new kit until you know
Attention to detail, management time and running costs: Don’t buy new kit until you know

Farmers at an Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) meeting in Cornwall (England) were warned of the dangers of buying new equipment...

Ammonia deadlock stalling farm planning applications but ‘no one thought to tell farmers’
Ammonia deadlock stalling farm planning applications but ‘no one thought to tell farmers’

Northern Ireland’s environment agency (NIEA) is understood to have put a virtual deadlock on many major farm building projects because...

Gove’s Oxford Farming Conference remarks ‘an insult to farmers’
Gove’s Oxford Farming Conference remarks ‘an insult to farmers’

Former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has hit out at comments made today at the Oxford Farming Conference by UK...

Ammonia action ‘urgently needed on every farm’
Ammonia action ‘urgently needed on every farm’

A working group commissioned by Northern Ireland’s Department of Agriculture has published several recommendations to curb the problem of excess...

Plant protection product given approval for UK use in record time
Plant protection product given approval for UK use in record time

UK herb growers will be able to protect their crops with a new weed control product approved in record time,...

‘Moving the goalposts’: Tier 2 farmer out £15,000 blames NIEA for planning ordeal
‘Moving the goalposts’: Tier 2 farmer out £15,000 blames NIEA for planning ordeal

A Co. Antrim farmer who says he has been put out around £15,000 (€16,900) preparing for a Tier 2 application...