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.

Northern flock owners urged to be vigilant as avian influenza spreads
Northern flock owners urged to be vigilant as avian influenza spreads

Poultry farmers are urged to be vigilant as outbreaks of bird flu continue to be reported in continental Europe. It...

Sheep put down after worrying attack
Sheep put down after worrying attack

Several sheep have had to be put down after a dog attacked and savaged a flock in Garvagh, Co. Derry....

UFU joins forces with Fane Valley to reach 100th year £100,000 goal
UFU joins forces with Fane Valley to reach 100th year £100,000 goal

Northern Ireland’s farming union – the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) – has teamed up with Fane Valley to reach its...

Curry: ‘Be efficient, add value or diversify – or struggle to survive’
Curry: ‘Be efficient, add value or diversify – or struggle to survive’

Many of the challenges facing farmers in the Brexit age are the same as 15 years ago, the author of...

Farm research body returns industry investment 22 times over
Farm research body returns industry investment 22 times over

Farmer-funded research and development organisation AgriSearch has helped to deliver research worth over £170 million to Northern Ireland’s ruminant livestock...

‘I was given the opportunity to do what I wanted – rear cattle of my own’
‘I was given the opportunity to do what I wanted – rear cattle of my own’

The two winners of the first ever youth Angus rearing competition in Northern Ireland have decided to invest their winnings...

How realistic are you when it comes to biosecurity?
How realistic are you when it comes to biosecurity?

Farmers frequently convince themselves that their biosecurity is much better than in reality, Northern Ireland’s most senior vet has said....

Brave farm girl Grace inspires marts to drop the hammer for charity
Brave farm girl Grace inspires marts to drop the hammer for charity

The brave battle of an eight-year-old farmer’s daughter has inspired Northern Ireland’s farming community to rally together for heart disease...

‘Super pest’ moth now capable of surviving British and Irish winter
‘Super pest’ moth now capable of surviving British and Irish winter

A ‘super pest’ moth which is already resistant to a class of common plant protection is now also capable of...

Potato harvest 2017: ‘One of the worst in living memory’
Potato harvest 2017: ‘One of the worst in living memory’

Potato farmers say they are experiencing one of the “worst harvests ever” with many warning their crops are rotting in...

Hundreds of sheep suspected stolen in the ‘Mourne’ county
Hundreds of sheep suspected stolen in the ‘Mourne’ county

Hundreds of sheep are thought to have been stolen from a farm in south Co. Down. The sheep went missing...

Farmer fined after vet had to put down animals during inspection
Farmer fined after vet had to put down animals during inspection

A Co. Down farmer has been fined more than £5,000 after a vet had to euthanise a cow, a sheep and...

Farm Family meetings to cover tax liabilities, reliefs and allowances
Farm Family meetings to cover tax liabilities, reliefs and allowances

Farming families are urged to attend one of a series of meetings planned to make their businesses more resilient. Farmers...

Aggressive lettuce disease Fusarium wilt spotted in UK for the first time
Aggressive lettuce disease Fusarium wilt spotted in UK for the first time

Lettuce growers have been urged to look out for Fusarium wilt and root rot after an outbreak of the aggressive...

Cross-border smuggling blamed for NI’s 10,000 missing cattle
Cross-border smuggling blamed for NI’s 10,000 missing cattle

More than 10,000 Northern Irish cattle have been reported stolen or lost in just three years – with cross-border smuggling...

Ploughing match cancelled in respect to NIPA chairman Wilson Holden
Ploughing match cancelled in respect to NIPA chairman Wilson Holden

Tomorrow’s ploughing match in Hillsborough has been cancelled as a mark of respect towards Northern Ireland Ploughing Association chairman Wilson Holden....

BSE: New statuses to be applied to Northern cattle on Monday
BSE: New statuses to be applied to Northern cattle on Monday

New BSE status controls will be included on the North’s departmental animal database ‘APHIS’ to identify Negligible Risk (NR) and...

Moy Park achieves top sustainability status for fifth year running
Moy Park achieves top sustainability status for fifth year running

Northern Ireland’s largest poultry processor has achieved the highest scoring level for sustainability in the Business in the Community Northern...