Fcr Cover Letter

---
name: fcr-cover-letter
description: Use when writing the cover letter for a Field Crops Research (FCR) submission to the Editors-in-Chief. The letter must establish scope fit (field-based, multi-season/-environment, a field crop, generally significant), state the novel contribution and article type, and confirm originality and data availability. Drafts the letter; it does not contact editors or invent claims.
---

# Cover Letter (fcr-cover-letter)

The cover letter is the editor's first scope check. Because FCR has a **strict scope boundary**, the
letter's job is to show — in a few sentences — that the paper is **field-based, multi-environment, on a
field crop, and generally significant**, and to name the **novel contribution** clearly. A vague
letter invites a fast desk rejection.

## When to trigger

- Preparing the submission package and need the cover letter
- Pitching a Review or Opinion proposal to the Editors-in-Chief first
- Explaining why a borderline design (e.g., exceptional single-season circumstances) still fits scope

## What an FCR cover letter must do

1. **Address the Editors-in-Chief** and name the journal and the **article type** (Original Research
   Paper / Short Communication / Review / Opinion).
2. **Establish scope fit in one short paragraph.** State that the work is **field-based**, spans
   **≥ 2 seasons and/or multiple environments**, concerns a **field crop**, and offers **general
   relevance** (not local/descriptive). If a single-season design is unavoidable, justify the
   "exceptional circumstances" explicitly.
3. **State the novel contribution.** One or two sentences: what new scientific insight, technology, or
   method of general application the paper provides, and the headline **quantitative** result.
4. **Confirm the essentials.** Original work, not under consideration elsewhere; all authors approve;
   a **data-availability** position; any **generative-AI** use disclosed; suggested/excluded reviewers
   if the journal invites them.
5. **Be brief and specific.** Roughly one page; no hype; let the agronomic significance speak.

## Skeleton

```
Dear Editors-in-Chief,

We submit "[Title]" for consideration as an [article type] in Field Crops Research.

[Scope + contribution: field-based study across N seasons and M environments on
<field crop>; the novel finding is ___, quantified as ___; it matters generally
because ___.]

The work is original and not under consideration elsewhere; all authors approve
submission. Data availability: [shared in <repository> / restricted because ___].
[We did/did not use generative-AI tools, disclosed in the manuscript.]

[Optional: suggested reviewers / conflicts.]

Sincerely, [Corresponding author, affiliation, contact]
```

## Anti-patterns

- A letter that summarises the abstract but never states **scope fit**
- Claiming novelty without the quantitative finding or its general relevance
- Hiding a single-site/single-season limitation instead of justifying it
- Overstating impact; emotional or boilerplate appeals
- Forgetting originality, data-availability, or AI-disclosure statements

## Output format

```
【Article type】named? [Y/N]
【Scope fit stated】field-based + ≥2 seasons/envs + field crop + general? [Y/N]
【Contribution】novel insight + headline quantitative result stated? [Y/N]
【Declarations】originality + data availability + AI disclosure? [Y/N]
【Length/tone】~1 page, specific, no hype? [Y/N]
【Next】fcr-review-process
```

## Supplementary resources

- [`../../resources/official-source-map.md`](../../resources/official-source-map.md) — scope boundary, article types, and submission expectations