© 2002 Plant Management Network. 
Accepted for publication 13 February 2002. Published 5 April 2002.

Crop Management: A CSSA Leadership
Perspective

Vivien G. Allen, D. A. Sleper, and P. Stephen Baenziger, Crop Science Society of America Executive Committee, 677 S. Segoe Road, Madison, WI 53711

Corresponding author: David A. Sleper. sleperd@missouri.edu

Allen, V. G., Sleper, D. A., and Baenziger, P. S. 2002. Crop Management: A CSSA leadership perspective. Online. Crop Management doi:10.1094/CM-2002-0405-02-PS.

The electronic journal, Crop Management, has become a reality. The need for this electronic journal became apparent after viewing the results of a survey of the CSSA membership conducted by the Renaissance Initiative Coordinating Team (RICT), which indicated that CSSA members desired to improve scientific communication using electronic communication technologies. In addition, almost 70% of the respondents indicated a need to develop a journal designed for practicing professionals in the field of Crop Science. In a report submitted to the CSSA Executive Committee in March 2001, the RICT made a recommendation that we create a new electronic journal for applied crop science. The RICT suggested that this electronic publication would serve the purpose of providing timely and relevant information to certified crop consultants and others interested in applied crop management. The CSSA Executive Committee asked the ad hoc committee, which was led by Dr. Kenneth Moore, to develop a detailed proposal and report back to the CSSA Executive Committee in August 2001. The ad hoc committee did so and the proposal was presented to the CSSA Board of Directors at our annual meeting in October 2001 in Charlotte, NC. The proposal was passed unanimously.

The purpose of the electronic journal, Crop Management, will be to quickly disseminate results from crop management research that is timely, relevant, and easily accessed. Our practicing professionals need information quickly to answer important questions that arise on a daily basis. Furthermore, the electronic format offers the opportunity to include color photos and diagrams that would be more costly to include in our traditional publications. It is also important to archive research information for future use and the electronic format of Crop Management lends itself to this need. In addition, information needs to be retrieved conveniently by those that need it. The Internet provides simple access to scientifically based research information that can contribute to the livelihood of our practicing professionals and their clientele.

Crop Management will also serve as an outlet for industry, government, and university researchers to publish timely results on crop management research in a rapid fashion. Clearly, there is a need for crop management researchers to get valuable data, from well-designed and conceived scientific studies, quickly into the hands of those who require this information. We recognize that crop management research endeavors are dynamic and will continue to evolve over time to help solve relevant crop management problems. The electronic format of Crop Management is expected to provide the latest information and provide a framework for future enhancements in this field of research and in our electronic publications.

Crop Management will be published by one of our sister societies, namely, the American Phytophathological Society (APS). The editorial responsibilities for Crop Management will reside solely with CSSA. Our partnership with APS will allow CSSA to publish a high quality electronic journal, and thus enhanced membership services, at reasonable costs. CSSA has already partnered with APS in the publication of the electronic journal, Plant Health Progress. Plant Health Progress is a multidisciplinary science-based journal, which reports on applied plant health management studies.

We gratefully acknowledge the contributors of the first articles to be published at Crop Management. We also acknowledge the diligent efforts of the editors. We thank Dr. Kenneth Moore for his initiative and dedication in bringing this publication to fruition. It is our hope that Crop Management will provide the forum for publishing useful research results from numerous and diverse sources that will meet the information needs of crop management professionals.