Gowan Company Acquires New Active Ingredient Spirodiclofen and Distributes Postemergent Herbicide Ricestar® HT from Bayer AG

Gowan Crop Protection Limited, an affiliate of Gowan Company, L.L.C., announced recently that it has entered into agreements with Bayer AG to acquire global rights to the active ingredient Spirodiclofen and  exclusive distribution rights to Bayer’s postemergent rice herbicide Ricestar® HT. The acquisition includes product registrations and trademarks, including Envidor™, Envidor Speed™, Ecomite™, and related intellectual property and labels. The transaction closed September 1, 2020, although Bayer and Gowan will work together over the next several months to facilitate an orderly transition to maintain quality customer service in all geographies. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The distribution agreement gives Gowan rights to the supply and supplemental distribution of Ricestar® HT effective September 1, 2020, with all commercial sales and marketing responsibilities in the US transferring from Bayer to Gowan.

Spirodiclofen is an IRAC Group 23 acaricide, which inhibits lipid biosynthesis in a wide spectrum of mites, including the Tetranychidae, Eriophyidae, Tenuipalpidae and Tarsonemidae families. It is active against all life stages of mites, including eggs, nymphs, and female adults, providing both an initial “knockdown” effect as well as excellent residual control. In addition, the product also controls some insect pests such as psylla (Cacopsylla pyri), scale (Lepidosaphes ulmi) and some leafhopper species. Spirodiclofen has active registrations in many markets around the globe, primarily in horticulture crops such as citrus, apples, avocados, grapes, pears, as well as other fruit, vegetable, tree nut, and plantation crops.
 
A cornerstone of Gowan’s Muddy Boots philosophy is to support growers and distribution partners in meeting the challenges of controlling destructive weeds, insects, or pathogens infesting crops. Gowan believes this acquisition will enhance its core product offering in tree fruits, vines, and vegetables and allow the company to serve better growers’ needs in these crops.
 

Ricestar® HT provides broad-spectrum grass control with tank mix flexibility on all rice hybrids and varieties excluding short-grain and aromatic. Ricestar® HT is registered in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas, and is known for its control of sprangletop, barnyardgrass, broadleaf signalgrass, and fall panicum.
 
“Control of weeds like sprangletop and barnyardgrass are a continuous challenge for rice growers and we understand the value Ricestar® HT brings to any grower’s herbicide program. This addition to the Gowan USA rice herbicide portfolio allows us to offer a more comprehensive range of weed control solutions,  along with the same service and support we maintain for the rice industry,” said Eric McEwen, Director of US & Canadian Marketing for Gowan USA.
 
A cornerstone of Gowan’s Muddy Boots philosophy is to support growers and retailers in meeting the challenges of controlling destructive weeds, insects, or pathogens infesting crops. Adding Ricestar® HT to the Gowan portfolio will expand its core product offering and allow the company to serve better the growers’ needs in rice production.