These consist of plants whose aerial part has a herbaceous consistency (cereals, leguminous plants, potatoes, cotton, beetroot, fodder plants, vegetables, etc.). Seedbeds for use on the holding itself are included in the corresponding crop sections.

This land is ploughed or tilled regularly, generally under a crop rotation system.

Under a crop rotation system, crops are grown in succession on a particular plot of land in accordance with a predetermined plan. In general, crops change every year, but they can also be multiannual. This category includes certain crops usually classified as vegetables, ornamental plants or industrial crops (such as asparagus, roses, decorative shrubs grown for their flowers or leaves, strawberries, hops), even if they occupy the land for more than five years.

Specifically, the following crop groups are included:

Cereals for grain (including seed for sowing)

These are cereals harvested dry for grain, regardless of use, with straw being considered a by-product.

Cereals are annual plants, usually belonging to the grass family, which yield grains used for food, fodder, seed and industrial purposes, such as the production of ethanol.

Cereal mixtures, such as maslin (a mix of wheat and rye), are also considered.

Within this group, the following species can be identified:

- Common wheat and spelt
- Durum wheat
- Barley
- Rye and winter cereal mixtures (maslin)
- Oats and spring cereal mixtures
- Grain maize and corn-cob-mix (excludes maize harvested green as whole plants for fodder and sweetcorn for human consumption, which is included in vegetables)
- Rice
- Triticale
- Sorghum
- Other cereals not classified elsewhere (buckwheat, millet, canary seed, quinoa, etc.)

Dry pulses and protein crops for grain (including seed and mixtures of cereals and pulses for sowing)

Includes areas of pulses and protein crops harvested dry for grain, regardless of their use, including those used for human consumption, those used for fodder and those used for renewable energy production.

It also includes seed and mixtures of cereals and pulses.

The following groups can be identified:

- Peas, field beans and sweet lupins, harvested dry for grain, including seed, regardless of their use.
- Chickpeas, dry beans, lentils and others (including mixtures with cereals, vetches, ervil, carob, fenugreek, grass peas).

Root and tuber crops

Includes areas of plants grown for their root, tuber or modified stem.

The following groups can be identified:

- Potatoes (including seed potatoes and potatoes used for fodder), regardless of the harvest time.
- Sugar beet (excluding seed), intended for the sugar industry and the production of alcohol and renewable energy, except that used for seed production.
- Other root and tuber crops: Fodder beet and plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family harvested mainly for animal feed, regardless of whether for the root or stem, and other plants grown mainly for their roots for fodder, not classified elsewhere.

Crops harvested green (excluding seed)

Comprises areas of all arable land crops harvested green and used mainly for animal feed, fodder or renewable energy production, namely cereals, grasses, leguminous or industrial crops and other arable land crops harvested or used green.

“Green crops” (as opposed to “dry grain” crops) are normally used to enable livestock to graze or are harvested green, although they can also be harvested dry, and can be consumed green or undergo a preservation process (ensilage, tedding, etc.).

These crops must be grown in rotation with other crops, occupying the same plot of land for less than 5 years (annual or multiannual fodder crops).

In general, the whole plant, except the roots, is harvested and used for fodder production (forage) or renewable energy production (e.g. production of biomass from green maize).

Includes:

- Cereals, industrial plants and other arable land crops harvested and/or used green.
- Crops not used on the holding, but sold, either for direct use on other agricultural holdings or for industry.
- Plants used as fodder on the farm itself.
- Production of biomass from green maize.
- Plants used for energy production.

The following groups can be identified:

- Multiannual green fodder: Grasses and temporary grassland for grazing, hay or silage included as part of a normal crop rotation, and which occupy the soil for at least one agricultural year and less than five years, whether they are sown as pure grasses or grass mixtures.
Being before resown, areas are tilled or ploughed or the plants are destroyed by other means such as the use of herbicides.

- Leguminous plants harvested green: Areas of leguminous plants grown and harvested green as whole plants, mainly for fodder or energy production.
Includes mixtures of predominantly leguminous plants (normally more than 80%) and grasses, harvested green or as dry hay.

- Maize harvested green (forage maize): All types of maize grown mainly for silage (whole cob, parts of the plant or whole plant) and not harvested for grain production.

- Cereals harvested green (except forage maize): Cereals grown and harvested green as whole plants for fodder or renewable energy production (biomass production).

- Other annual crops harvested green (rape, grasses, sunflowers, etc.): Other annual or multiannual (less than five years) crops used mainly for fodder and harvested green. In addition, crop residues not classified elsewhere, where the main crop has been destroyed but the residues can still be used (as fodder or for renewable energy production).

Industrial crops

Areas of industrial crops, which are not normally sold directly for consumption because they need to be industrially processed prior to final use.

They are arable crops whose product needs to be industrially processed prior to final use.

Includes industrial plants for renewable energy production and oilseeds (sunflower, safflower, rape, soya, peanut and others).

The following groups can be identified:

- Cotton (including seed).
- Fibre crops: fibre flax, hemp, cotton, jute, abaca, kenaf and sisal.
- Oilseed crops (including seed for sowing): Rape, turnip rape, sunflower seeds, soya, linseed, white mustard, poppy, safflower, sesame, tiger nuts, peanuts, pumpkins for oil and hemp grown for oil production, harvested as dry grains, except cotton seeds.
- Tobacco
- Hops
- Aromatic, medicinal and culinary plants
- Energy crops that are used exclusively for renewable energy production and have not been classified elsewhere. They are grown on arable land such as miscanthus, reed canary grass and other specific species.
- Other industrial crops not mentioned elsewhere, such as sugar cane, euphorbia, chicory, etc.

Fresh vegetables, melons and strawberries

Areas of all brassicas, leafy and stalk vegetables, vegetables grown for their fruit, roots, tubers and bulbs, fresh pulses, other vegetables harvested fresh (not dry) and strawberries, grown outdoors on arable land, in rotation with other agricultural or horticultural crops.

Those species intended for human consumption that are horticultural in nature and produced both in market gardens and on arable land are grouped under this heading.

The following species are considered:

- Leafy and stalk vegetables: cabbages, brussels sprouts, collard greens, asparagus, celery, lettuce, curly endives, spinach, Swiss chard, cardoon, green chicory, endives, borage, etc.
- Vegetables grown for fruit: watermelons, melons, pumpkins, courgettes, cucumbers, gherkins, aubergines, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, etc.
- Flowering vegetables: artichokes, cauliflowers, broccoli, etc.
- Root and bulb vegetables: garlic, onions, spring onions, leeks, beetroot, carrots, radishes, turnips, etc
- Pulses: green beans, green peas, green field beans, etc.

The area used for growing vegetables can be classified into one of the following categories:

- Vegetables grown on arable land: vegetables grown in rotation with other non-horticultural crops such as cereals, pulses for grain or industrial crops.
- Vegetables grown in market gardens: vegetables grown in rotation with other horticultural crops, whether outdoors or under low cover.

Flowers and ornamental plants (intended to be sold as cut flowers except seeds and seedlings)

Areas of all flowers and ornamental plants intended to be sold as cut flowers, as potted, bedding and balcony flowers and plants, and as bulb and corm flowers, and other ornamental plants.

Seeds and seedlings intended for sale

Areas of seeds of root crops (except potatoes and other plants whose roots are also used as seeds), crops harvested green, grasses, industrial crops (except oilseeds) and seeds and seedlings of vegetables and flowers.

Includes:

- Areas producing seeds and seedlings for sale.
- Seeds and seedlings of vegetables for sale.
- Seeds and seedlings of flowers for sale.
- Bulbs, corms, and other very young plants.
- Green fodder harvested for seed.
- Roots harvested for seed.

Other arable crops

Areas of arable crops not classified elsewhere.