Cover Crops are used for a temporary land cover (generally no more than one year) to protect soil from erosion. Other times they are used to prepare a good seedbed for the next crop such as a native grass seeding. Another use is as a land cover for land being held in some kind of a conservation, set-a-side use area.

Many types of crops are used. Legumes, grasses, fall and spring seeded small grains such as wheat, oats and rye, grain sorghum and sudan grasses are also used. Usually fast growing crops, planted in 10 inch rows or closer are best. Time of seeding sometimes will determine which crop is best.