Colleagues: We received numerous emails asking us 
to extend the abstract submission deadline ONE 
LAST TIME. So, the abstract submission deadline 
is being extended to March 31, 2008. We trust 
this will allow you the time needed to submit 
your abstract and participate in this important 
endeavor. Submit abstracts ONLINE via the 
conference web site at: www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/CIMR

CIMR -- CLIMATE INFORMATION FOR MANAGING RISKS
Partnerships and Solutions for Agriculture and Natural Resources
June 10-13, 2008 l St. Pete Beach, FL
Visit the website for details: www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/CIMR

Agricultural and natural resource managers need 
climate information to address short and 
long-term challenges posed by a variable and 
changing climate. CIMR is an international 
symposium that will provide a forum for the 
exchange of knowledge, experiences, and ideas 
among diverse participants. Its purpose is to 
identify priorities and plan strategies for 
climate research, education and outreach programs 
that are needed to assure decision makers have 
relevant and valuable climate information. 
Solutions will depend on integrating these 
programs with decision makers, managers and other 
stakeholders as active partners.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
Anyone interested in identifying research, 
education, and outreach priorities or exploring 
opportunities for applications of climate 
information and development of decision support 
systems. Representatives who should participate 
include: Federal, state and local government 
agencies conducting climate research, Researchers 
and educators in agriculture, natural resources, 
and climate; University administrators, faculty 
and students, including those participating in 
Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments 
Centers (RISAs), climate centers, and those 
involved with improving the use of climate 
information for agriculture and natural resource 
administrators; NGOs, PVOs, the private sector 
and working group representatives, crop 
consultants, commodity associations, producer 
organizations, environmental consulting firms, 
agricultural and natural resources media and 
others interested in climate information to manage risks.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS – EXTENDED Submission DEADLINE:  March 31st, 2008
If your work could be applied to managing climate 
variability or climate change risks to 
agriculture and natural resources, we encouraged 
you to submit an abstract for a poster 
presentation. The program will consist of invited 
speakers, and poster presentations selected from 
abstract submissions. Posters will provide a 
valuable format for dialogue outside the plenary 
and breakout discussion sessions, and will be a 
significant component of this symposium. Posters 
will be displayed during a formal poster session 
and reception with authors available for 
discussion. Abstracts will be published in the 
electronic book of abstracts on CD-ROM. Visit the website for details.
www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/CIMR

PLENARY SPEAKERS
Gale Buchanan, Under Secretary for Research, 
Education and Economics, USDA (Washington, D.C.)
Cynthia Rosenzweig, Senior Research Scientist, 
NASA-Goddard Space Institute (New York)
James O'Brien, Emeritus Robert 0. Lawton 
Distinguished Professor, Florida State University (Florida)
Thomas Crisman, Professor, Dept. of Biology, 
University of South Florida (Florida)
Jerry Hatfield, Past President, American Society 
of Agronomy, USDA Agricultural Research Service (Iowa)
Allison Adams, Hydrologist, Tampa Bay Water (Florida)
Jerry Pennick, Federation of Southern Cooperatives (Georgia)
Virginia Guzman, USDA Risk Management Agency (Missouri)
Pat Cockrell, Executive Director, Florida Farm Bureau Federation (Florida)
Kenneth Crawford, Director, Oklahoma 
Climatological Survey, University of Oklahoma (Oklahoma)
James W. Jones, Distinguished Professor, IFAS, University of Florida (Florida)
John Antle, Professor, Montana State University (Montana)
Victor Murphy, Climate Services Program Manager, (Texas)
Louise Jackson, Professor, UC – Davis (California)
Clyde Fraisse, Assistant Professor, IFAS, University of Florida (Florida)
Mark Cane, G. Unger Vetlesen Professor of Earth 
and Climate Sciences, Columbia University (New York)
Tim Wheeler, Reader in Crop Science, Walker 
Institute for Climate System Research, University of Reading, (United Kingdom)
Paul Ruscher, Associate Professor and Assistant 
Chair, Meteorology Department, Florida State University (Florida)

Visit the CIMR website for more information and 
how you can participate:  www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/CIMR

For questions: Mandy Stage, Email: [log in to unmask]; Tel: 352-392-5930