NEW ZEALAND winemaker Delegat’s Group has spread its wings to Australia. It has bought Barossa Valley Estate in South Australia for A$25 million, to be settled in June.  Barossa, a grape grower-owned co-op, went into receivership in January.  Australian media report that Woolworths had also bid for the winemaker through its subsidiary Cellarmasters. Delegat’s has bought Barossa’s modern 5000 tonne winery and a 41ha vineyard on 80ha. The deal includes Barossa Valley Estate and E&E brands and grape grower contracts. Delegat’s managing director Jim Delegat describes the acquisition as “an ideal fit with the group’s portfolio of high quality wine assets. We look forward to the opportunity of building one of the world’s great shiraz brands from the iconic Barossa region.” Barossa Valley is recognised globally for producing world-class shiraz.  www.barossavalleyestate.com

BEEF+LAMB NEW Zealand chair Mike Petersen says his organisation will do what it can to help the group of farmers campaigning for changes in the meat industry.

DON’T SAY we didn’t warn you, say the authors of a damning report on the PKE supply chain. Their warning comes after the Ministry for Primary Industry (MPI) said it had no concerns about Malaysian imports into New Zealand.

Lincoln University has formed a new Farms Committee to oversee the development of the 3900ha of farmland owned and operated by the university.

An industry-backed trip to Asia has given Otago farmers Blair and Jane Smith a deeper understanding of the challenges facing marketers of New Zealand meat and dairy products.

THE 34 FINALISTS in the 2013 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are now known.

A WAIRARAPA agribusiness consulting company, Baker and Associates, is setting up a special unit to meet growing demand from farmers for help in dealing with new environmental regulations.

THE LABOUR Party and the Green Party recently announced plans to establish a new agency, New Zealand Power, to act as a single buyer of wholesale electricity.

SUPPLIERS TO Synlait Milk can earn 6c/kgMS more for their milk next season, and possibly 12c/kgMS after that, if they achieve new, internationally accredited assurance standards.

HIGH FARM production and heavy stocking rates need not burden the environment, say brother and sister Shayne and Charmaine O’Shea, this year’s supreme winners of the Ballance Northland Farm Environmental Awards.