This information bulletin presents characteristics of 12 major cover crops, and considers important management factors that can lead to successful soil protection and improvement, as well as weed and disease control. A four step planning guide is the cornerstone for ensuring maximum benefits and reduction of potential detrimental effects: 1) Identifying and ranking needs, 2) identifying when and where bare land is available for cover cropping, 3) matching the needs and the niches with appropriate cover crops, and 4) developing a detailed and tactical plan.