Dow AgroSciences LLC has received a full Federal Section 3 label from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for market introduction of penoxsulam for control of watergrass, barnyardgrass, broadleaf weeds and annual sedges in rice.

Penoxsulam will be marketed and sold under the brand names Grasp™ SC herbicide for dry-seeded and water-seeded rice grown in the Southern United States, and Granite™ GR herbicide for use in California rice production. State registrations for both products are pending.

"Penoxsulam is an exciting new addition to the Dow AgroSciences rice herbicide portfolio in the United States," states Adriana Ratterman, marketing specialist for rice products with Dow AgroSciences. "It has shown outstanding control of problem weeds when used in water-seeded or dry-seeded rice. And, it's a useful new tool for U.S. rice growers."

In the Mid-South, Grasp SC will be labeled for use as a post-emergence foliar application. It controls 1- to 4-leaf pre-tillered barnyardgrass, including propanil and quinclorac resistant biotypes, and has been shown to suppress perennial barnyardgrass. It can also be used to control many broadleaf and annual sedge weeds, including smartweed, alligatorweed, coffeebean (hemp sesbania), jointvetch (indigo), Texasweed, dayflower, eclipta, ducksalad and rice flat sedge.

In California, Granite GR is a granular formulation to be used early season for control of watergrass and many broadleaf and annual sedges such as California arrowhead and ricefield bulrush. The convenient granule formulation reduces drift concerns to neighboring crops.

Field trials in major rice producing areas have demonstrated excellent residual activity on watergrass, barnyardgrass, several broadleaf weeds and annual sedge weeds.

Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a global leader in providing pest management and biotechnology products that improve the quality and quantity of the earth's food supply and contribute to the health and quality of life of the world's growing population. Dow AgroSciences has approximately 5,700 people in over 50 countries dedicated to its business, and has worldwide sales of approximately US $3 billion. Dow AgroSciences is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. For more information about Dow AgroSciences, visit www.dowagro.com.