Released May 5, 2008

AMES, Iowa -- When crop research news happens, Iowa farmers and agribusiness professionals want to know — and now they know a lot faster, thanks to the Integrated Crop Management (ICM) News Web site. (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/) The former printed newsletter has been replaced with an online resource. Gerald Miller, director of ISU Extension to Agriculture and Natural Resources, says the change will help subscribers stay informed about crop issues during the upcoming growing season.

“With the printed version, there would be about a week’s delay from the time an article was written to the time the newsletter was received in a subscriber’s U.S. mailbox,” Miller said.

“With the online resource, a specialist can write an article, and the editor can review it and post it on the Web in only a matter of hours. When an article is posted — whether it’s Sunday afternoon, or Friday morning or Monday at noon, subscribers can automatically get an e-mail notice that there’s a new article available.”

Subscribers can choose to be notified about new articles daily or weekly. They can read articles online as well as print single articles or weekly compilations.

ICM News is supported primarily by ISU Extension and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the departments of Agronomy, Entomology and Plant Pathology. However, Miller said specialists in other areas also could be called in to contribute research-based information.

The needs of Iowa’s farmers and agribusiness professionals drive the decisions on what is published in ICM News, Miller said. If they have a need, then ICM News will address it.

For subscription information, visit the ICM News Web site, http://www.extension.iastate.edu/CropNews/.

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http://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/2008/may/120101.htm

Contacts: Gerald Miller, (515) 294-4333, soil@iastate.edu

Jean McGuire, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu

Laura Sternweis, (515) 294-0775, lsternwe@iastate.edu