A drone large enough to carry tanks of fertilizers and pesticides has won rare approval from federal authorities to spray crops in the United States, officials said Tuesday. The drone, called the RMAX, is a remotely piloted helicopter that weighs 207 pounds (94 kilograms), said Steve Markofski, a spokesman for Yamaha Corp. U.S.A., which developed the aircraft. Smaller drones weighing a few pounds had already been approved for limited use to take pictures that help farmers identify unhealthy crops.

New Zealand is gaining a reputation as a leading educator with overseas graduates seeking further study opportunities as a springboard into employment in the wine industry. Offering an on-campus option for its graduate diplomas in oenology and viticulture for the first time this year, EIT enrolled some 18 postgraduates in the inaugural one-year winemaking program, and two-thirds are overseas graduates.

Veteran winemaker Joe Babich, who has played a vital part in the establishment of Babich Wines in Marlborough, has been presented his New Year’s Honour. Babich attended a ceremony at Government House in Auckland on Wednesday where he was formerly appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the wine industry. He was presented it by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae.

Winemaker, Delegat Group has bought an 838 hectare farm in Hawke’s Bay’s Crownthorpe region from Hopkins Farming Group for $29.3 million. The purchase will support the group’s long term growth strategy, Delegat said. The agreement will settle in May 2016 and be funded within the group’s long term bank facilities. Managing director of Delegat Group Graeme Lord said the Crownthorpe region offered prime wine grape growing conditions.

New research has highlighted the unique nature of online wine buyers in the UK, as well as the best-selling source countries. Commissioned by Inter Rhône and compiled by the Wilson Drinks Report, the pioneering piece of research shows a web-based wine market performing very differently from high-street retailing, which is dominated by the supermarkets.

A Marlborough wine company has put a brewer’s twist on the region’s flagship wine variety by blending grapes and hops. Green Hopped Gooseberry Bomb Sauvignon Blanc, made from Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc grapes and green Sauvin hops from Nelson, is one of the first “craft wines” to come out of Allan Scott Family Winemakers, near Blenheim. Winemaking director Josh Scott said craft wines were a twist on conventional winemaking.

Iron ore has been Australia’s largest export, but as minerals prices plunge, Australia’s economy is under pressure to pivot away from mining and toward the next big boom. With the exception of Rio Tinto and BHP, the whole Australian iron ore industry is now digging dirt for a loss. The fourth largest iron ore producer, Atlas Iron, will suspend its entire production by the end of this month. Chinese demand for Australian minerals may be slowing but demand for Australian food and agricultural products is predicted to grow.

CHINA will be “by far the most dominant player in Asia, and … change global markets for wines dramatically’’ in coming years, a new study from the University of Adelaide’s Wine Economics Research Centre says. The working paper, Asia’s Evolving Role in Global Wine Markets, by Kym Anderson and Glyn Wittwer, forecasts China’s wine consumption to increase by 40-60 per cent between 2011 and 2018.

Australians appear to be drinking less alcohol now than at any time in the past 50 years, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The ABS found there were 9.7 litres of pure alcohol available for consumption for every Australian aged 15 years and over in 2013-14 – the equivalent of 2.1 standard drinks per person per day. ABS spokeswoman Louise Gates said this was the lowest level of alcohol consumption since the early 1960s.

The Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) Rebate will not be changed through the 2015-16 Federal Budget reform will remain on the agenda according to Josh Frydenberg, the Assistant Treasurer. Eligibility for New Zealand wine producers will remain, while bulk and unbranded wine will not be phased out through the budget process, despite calls from the Winemaker’s Federation of Australia (WFA) to adjust both these areas.