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.

‘Rare Breed’ farmer loses straw and machinery in major shed blaze
‘Rare Breed’ farmer loses straw and machinery in major shed blaze

A well-known Co. Antrim farmer has lost his winter supply of hay and straw after a shed fire destroyed thousands...

Arla boss: You can’t switch milk production on and off; farmers need to be able to plan for Brexit
Arla boss: You can’t switch milk production on and off; farmers need to be able to plan for Brexit

The UK dairy industry should be “recognised” in Brexit negotiations and details of the upcoming Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) plans released...

This Farming Life’s Bobby Lennox to lead bill at sheep producer event
This Farming Life’s Bobby Lennox to lead bill at sheep producer event

Scottish sheep producer Bobby Lennox, who starred on hit agricultural TV show This Farming Life, is set to head the line-up...

Down bagged salad firm ‘top of the crops’ at UK Food Manufacture Excellence Awards
Down bagged salad firm ‘top of the crops’ at UK Food Manufacture Excellence Awards

A multi-million pound salad grower and processor based in Co. Down has been named Fresh Produce Manufacturing Company of the Year...

World Dairy Summit: The Co. Down herd in the top 1% of £PLI rankings
World Dairy Summit: The Co. Down herd in the top 1% of £PLI rankings

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Hillsborough, Co. Down is home to one of the UK’s top £PLI ranking...

Breeding goals: ‘There’s no point breeding a 12,000L cow if she’ll not last’
Breeding goals: ‘There’s no point breeding a 12,000L cow if she’ll not last’

Milk volume is no longer the driver of dairy breeding in Northern Ireland, with attention now turning to lifetime productivity...

World Dairy Summit: Poor grass management could be costing you £241 a cow
World Dairy Summit: Poor grass management could be costing you £241 a cow

Farmers could be losing out on thousands of pounds simply by not effectively managing their grass, researchers say. AFBI’s Hillsborough research facility...

Monitor farms wanted for research programme
Monitor farms wanted for research programme

The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is looking for six new monitor farms to join its research network –...

Former World Expo Dairyman of the Year to judge this year’s Winter Fair
Former World Expo Dairyman of the Year to judge this year’s Winter Fair

US stockman and former World Dairy Expo Dairyman of the Year Hank Van Exel has been confirmed as the 2017...

Could futures contracts solve the problem of milk price volatility?
Could futures contracts solve the problem of milk price volatility?

Dairy industry leaders this week debated the pros and cons of using futures contracts to solve the problem of milk...

World Dairy Summit: Europe and USA driving global milk production recovery
World Dairy Summit: Europe and USA driving global milk production recovery

The European and US dairy markets are leading international recovery in milk markets, the International Dairy Federation (IDF) report revealed....

Dairy can ‘feed the world’ and protect the environment at the same time
Dairy can ‘feed the world’ and protect the environment at the same time

World political and agricultural leaders were told dairy can play a vital dual role in feeding the world with nutritious...

Lakeland Dairies’ second fixed price contract to include summer and winter rates
Lakeland Dairies’ second fixed price contract to include summer and winter rates

One of Ireland’s largest milk processors, Lakeland Dairies, has announced its second fixed price contract this week. The contract offers...

Artisan food sector given £88,000 research boost
Artisan food sector given £88,000 research boost

Northern Ireland’s artisan food sector has been given a £88,000 (€99,138) boost from Invest NI funding to help increase the...

Almost 90% of BPS stage two reviews are still ongoing
Almost 90% of BPS stage two reviews are still ongoing

Almost 90% of the North’s stage two Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) reviews are still ongoing, shocking figures have revealed. The findings,...

Butter bubble: ‘If someone wanted to lock in a contract at €7,000 we’ll have a celebration’
Butter bubble: ‘If someone wanted to lock in a contract at €7,000 we’ll have a celebration’

Current butter prices are unlikely to last, the head of one of Ireland’s biggest milk processors has warned. “If someone...

Farm antibiotic sales hit ‘all time low’ in the UK
Farm antibiotic sales hit ‘all time low’ in the UK

Antibiotic usage fell by more than a quarter in the UK over 2016, the latest figures show. Over the same...

Farmer fined after 14-year-old involved in slurry accident
Farmer fined after 14-year-old involved in slurry accident

A Co. Tyrone farmer has been fined £1,000 (€1,138) today, after a slurry accident saw a teenage casual employee fall unconscious...