Publications update
2022 Journal Editor Reappointments
In recognition of their outstanding work leading our Society publications, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA have reappointed the Editors of four peer-reviewed scholarly research journals to a second three-year term beginning in 2022.
Agricultural & Environmental Letters
Tom DeSutter
Tom DeSutter, Professor of Soil Sciences at the School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, has been reappointed for a second term as Editor of Agricultural & Environmental Letters (A&EL). Founded in 2016, A&EL is an open access, communications-length journal published by ASA, CSSA, and SSSA. Its commentaries and research letters cover the entire range of agricultural and environmental sciences.
Virtual issues in A&EL address key topics. The journal’s first virtual issue contains commentaries and research on soil health. Upcoming themes include crops and climate change and the benefits of cover crops. A future virtual issue will highlight articles addressing innovative, cost-saving technologies.
This year, A&EL received its first Journal Impact Factor (2.529). This will increase A&EL’s visibility within the research communities and should help expand the diversity of its readers and authors. In addition, A&EL hopes to increase its number of international board members. For authors looking to publish concise, influential articles on agriculture and the environment, A&EL is a natural home. The journal welcomes commentaries on intriguing and thought-provoking topics; it also encourages submissions on policy and interdisciplinary issues.
Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management
John Hendrickson
John Hendrickson, Research Rangeland Management Specialist for the USDA-ARS Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory in Mandan, ND, has been reappointed for a second term as Editor of Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management (CFTM). This journal focuses on research immediately applicable to the practitioner and those working with practitioners. It serves professions related to the management of crops, forages, grazinglands, and turfgrass. Articles are published in the form of research, briefs, reviews, perspectives, and diagnostic and management guides that benefit researchers, practitioners, educators, and industry representatives. Because units are in English, several articles are published in Crops & Soils magazine (sent out to all Certified Crop Advisers and other certificants) as self-study CEUs, expanding the reach of these practical findings to the farm level.
This year, CFTM began publishing video summaries of accepted articles. Video summaries are an excellent way to increase the visibility of research in the scientific community and a great tool to explain why an article is important to all levels of researchers. Videos take a personal approach, help attract more visits to an article, and lead to increased downloads and citations. In addition, the journal has been focusing on actively publishing more review articles. If you have an idea for a review that would be a good fit in the areas of applied crop, forage and grazinglands, and turfgrass management, please contact Dr. Hendrickson at Send Message.
Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems
Sarah Lovell
Sarah Lovell, Director of the Center for Agroforestry at the University of Missouri, has been reappointed for a second term as Editor of Urban Agriculture & Regional Food Systems (UARFS).
Founded in 2016 by ASA and CSSA, UARFS is an open access journal focused on the full range of dimensions related to urban and regional agriculture. Of special focus is a societal grand challenge: how to secure access to and availability of culturally appropriate, nutritious, and safe food and other important plant products for a growing and rapidly urbanizing world population. The diverse international editorial board understands that addressing this challenge requires a multidisciplinary approach. Thus, the journal was launched to respond to the wide-ranging areas of research contributing to the study of urban agriculture and regional food systems.
Recent editorial development efforts have included diversifying the editorial board—both geographically and in breadth of expertise—and soliciting papers for special issues. The journal will publish two special issues in 2021, including “Urban Agroforestry” and “Planning Food System Transitions.” The scope of the journal reflects the broad nature and emerging topical areas in urban agriculture and food systems.
The journal welcomes research contributions with a solid biological science base, particularly in the context of rural areas or applications to food systems. Ideas for special issues are also welcome.
Interested in turning your research into a video summary? Check out some recent examples—or learn how to make your own—here: www.agronomy.org/publications/journals/video-summaries.
Vadose Zone Journal
Markus Flury
Markus Flury, Professor at the Washington State University Puyallup Research & Extension Center, has been reappointed for a second term as Editor of Vadose Zone Journal (VZJ).
An open access outlet for fundamental and applied research, VZJ publishes articles from disciplinary and multidisciplinary investigations of the vadose zone. Since its inception in 2002, VZJ has been a visionary journal with a focus on multi- and interdisciplinary research and an online-only format. By featuring unique paper types such as “Updates” and “Priority Communications,” as well as frequent special sections, the journal supports rapid dissemination of research on emerging topics.
Another quality of VZJ is its embrace of open science, in terms of both accessibility and perspective. In 2018, VZJ transitioned to open access, making all newly published articles available to readers for free. In terms of perspective, VZJ boasts a diverse international editorial board, and nearly 75% of the research published by the journal is from authors outside of the U.S. The partnership between SSSA and Wiley also makes open access publishing more accessible to authors through transformational agreements with institutions, as well as waivers and discounts for authors located in low- and middle-income countries.
Recent editorial developments include increased issue frequency (allowing for more rapid indexing) and adoption of multimedia formats such as video summaries for greater accessibility. Upcoming special sections include “Agrogeophysics: Geophysics to Investigate Soil–Plant–Atmosphere Interactions & Support Agricultural Management” and “Emerging Particles and Biocolloids in Terrestrial and Aquatic Systems.”
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