Welcome to the final issue of the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research for 2011.
During this year, the Royal Society of New Zealand publishing staff farewelled the Senior Editor, Allan Crawford, and wished him well in his retirement.
We were then delighted to welcome Professor Tim Clough of Lincoln University to the Senior Editor role. Tim has previously worked with this journal as an Associate Editor, and brings to the role a keen understanding of the issues facing the agricultural sector into the future (see his editorial in this issue).
As the number and quality of manuscript submissions to this journal have increased, we have also been able to welcome three new Associate Editors, Dr Rich McDowell, Associate Professor Paul Kenyon, and Dr Jim Moir.
When the new Impact Factors were announced in the middle of the year, we are delighted to learn that this journal has experienced an increase in Impact Factor, which is now 0.67, up from 0.515. This ranks the Journal at 19/55 in the Thompson Reuters Agriculture, Multidisciplinary subject area.
The success of any journal is the result of a range of factors in which our authors, reviewers and editors play significant parts. I would like take this opportunity to express my personal appreciation of the work done by all these people during 2011.
It has been an exciting year for this journal, and there is every indication that 2012 will be even better. I look forward to more interesting papers for publication, and for your continuing support.
Sue Wilkins
Publishing Operations Manager
Royal Society of New Zealand