Conservation Compliance Agricultural Commodity List
If you grow agricultural commodity crops and you have Highly Erodible Land (HEL) or wetlands, you may need to meet the Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) or Wetland Conservation (WC) provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended.
Annual or Perennial Crops
Disclaimer: It should be noted that this list is not comprehensive. USDA program participants should contact their local USDA Service Center's Natural Resources Conservation Service for determinations specific to their cultural practices or for plants not listed here. Where plants are listed as locally determined, they may be treated as annual or perennial, based on their use in a local production system.
Annual crops are generally considered agricultural commodities. The list below assists USDA participants in determining if annual or perennial crops on their farming operation are subject to the HELC/WC provisions. If you don't see your crop in this list, it might be on the Field Production Horticulture list.
Please check with your USDA Service Center's Natural Resources Conservation Service for the determination specific to your agriculture operation.
Crop Name
Annual or Perennial
Acerola - Perennial
Alfalfa - Locally Determined
Almond - Perennial
Aloe Vera - Perennial
Amaranth Grain - Annual
Ambrosia - Annual
Annual Forage - Annual
Annual Ryegrass - Annual
Apple - Perennial
Apricots - Perennial
Aronia (Chokeberry) - Perennial
Artichokes - Perennial
Asparagus - Perennial
Atemoya - Perennial
Avocado - Perennial
Bamboo Shoots - Perennial
Bananas - Perennial
Barley - Annual
Beans - Annual
Beets - Annual
Blueberry - Perennial
Breadfruit - Perennial
Broccoflower - Annual
Broccoli - Annual
Broccolo-Cavalo - Annual
Brussel Sprouts - Annual
Buckwheat - Annual
Cabbage - Annual
Caimito - Perennial
Callaloo - Locally Determined
Camelina - Annual
Canary Melon - Annual
Canary Seed - Annual
Caneberries - Perennial
Canola - Annual
Carambola (Star Fruit) - Perennial
Carrots - Annual
Casaba Melon - Annual
Cashew - Perennial
Cassava - Annual
Castor Bean - Perennial
Cauliflower - Annual
Celeriac - Annual
Celery - Locally Determined
Chard - Annual
Cherimoya - Perennial
Cherry - Perennial
Chestnuts - Perennial
Chia - Annual
Chickpeas - Annual
Chicory/Radicchio - Perennial
Chile Peppers - Annual
Christmas Trees - Perennial
Chufa - Annual
Citron Melon - Annual
Citrus - Perennial
Clover - Locally Determined
Coconuts - Perennial
Coffee - Perennial
Collards - Annual
Corn - Annual
Cotton - Annual
Crambe - Annual
Cranberry - Perennial
Cucumber - Annual
Cultivated Wild Rice - Annual
Currants - Perennial
Dasheen - Annual
Dates - Perennial
Dill- Annual
Dry Beans - Annual
Dry Peas - Annual
Eggplant - Annual
Einkorn - Annual
Elderberries- Perennial
Emmer - Annual
Fig - Perennial
Flax - Annual
Flowers - Annual
Forage Seeding - Annual
Forage Soybean/Sorghum - Annual
Fresh Market Beans - Annual
Fresh Market Sweet Corn - Annual
Fresh Market Tomatoes - Annual
Gailon - Annual
Grain Sorghum - Annual
Grape and Table Grape - Perennial
Grapes - Perennial
Crop Name
Grass - Locally Determined
Green Peas - Annual
Greens - Annual
Guamabana/Soursop - Perennial
Guar - Annual
Guava - Perennial
Garlic - Annual
Genip - Perennial
Ginger - Annual
Ginseng - Perennial
Gooseberries - Perennial
Gourds - Annual
Guayule - Perennial
Hawaii Tropical Fruit (Not otherwise listed) - Locally Determined
Hazel Nuts - Perennial
Herbs - Locally Determined
Hesperaloe - Perennial
Hops - Perennial
Horseradish - Locally Determined
Huckleberries - Perennial
Hybrid Corn Seed - Annual
Hybrid Sorghum Seed - Annual
Indigo - Perennial
Jack Fruit - Perennial
Jerusalem Artichokes - Annual
Jojoba - Perennial
Jujube - Perennial
Juneberries - Perennial
Kale - Annual
Kamut - Annual
Kenaf - Annual
Kiwifruit - Perennial
Kochia (Prostrata) - Perennial
Kohlrabi - Annual
Leeks - Annual
Lemons - Perennial
Lentils - Annual
Lespedeza - Perennial
Lettuce - Annual
Lima Beans - Annual
Longan - Perennial
Lychee - Perennial
Macadamia - Perennial
Mango - Perennial
Mangosteen - Perennial
Maple Sap - Perennial
Mayhaw Berries - Perennial
Meadowfoam - Annual
Melons - Annual
Milkweed - Perennial
Millet - Annual
Mint - Perennial
Mulberries - Perennial
Mushrooms - Annual
Mustard - Annual
Nectarines - Perennial
Nursery crops (Field grown) - Locally Determined
Nut Trees - Perennial
Oats - Annual
Okra - Annual
Olive - Perennial
Onion - Annual
Papaya - Perennial
Parsnip - Annual
Passion Fruit - Perennial
Pea - Annual
Peach - Perennial
Peanuts - Annual
Pear - Perennial
Peas - Annual
Pecan - Perennial
Pejibaye (Heart Of Palm) - Perennial
Pennycress - Annual
Peppers - Annual
Perennial Peanuts - Perennial
Perique Tobacco - Annual
Persimmon - Perennial
Pineapple - Considered Annual
Crop Name
Pistachio - Perennial
Plantain - Perennial
Plum - Perennial
Plumcots - Perennial
Pomegranate - Perennial
Popcorn - Annual
Potatoes - Annual
Processing Beans - Annual
Prune - Perennial
Pummelo - Perennial
Pumpkins - Annual
Quinces - Perennial
Quinoa - Annual
Radishes - Annual
Raisin - Perennial
Rambutan - Perennial
Rapeseed - Annual
Rhubarb - Perennial
Rice - Annual
Rutabaga - Annual
Rye - Annual
Safflower - Annual
Sapodilla - Perennial
Sapote - Perennial
Scallions - Annual
Silage Sorghum - Annual
Sorghum - Annual
Sorghum - Dual Purpose - Annual
Sorghum Forage - Annual
Soybeans - Annual
Speltz - Annual
Spinach - Annual
Squash - Annual
Stonefruit - Perennial
Strawberries - Annual
Sudan grass - Annual
Sugar Beets - Annual
Sugarcane - Considered Annual
Sunflowers - Annual
Sunn Hemp - Annual
Sweet Cherry - Perennial
Sweet Corn - Annual
Sweet Potatoes - Annual
Swiss Chard - Annual
Tangos - Annual
Tannier - Perennial
Taro - Annual
Tea - Perennial
Tobacco - Burley - Annual
Tobacco - Cigar Binder - Annual
Tobacco - Cigar Filler - Annual
Tobacco - Cigar Wrapper - Annual
Tobacco - Dark Air Cured - Annual
Tobacco - Fire Cured - Annual
Tobacco - Flue Cured - Annual
Tobacco - Maryland - Annual
Tobacco Virginia Fire Cured - Annual
Tomatillos - Annual
Tomatoes - Annual
Triticale - Annual
Truffles - Annuals
Turnips - Annual
Vetch - Perennial
Walnut - Perennial
Wampee - Perennial
Water Cress - Perennial
Wax Jamboo Fruit - Perennial
Wheat - Annual
Yam - Annual
Zucchini - Annual