diff --git a/src/biogeochem/CropType.F90 b/src/biogeochem/CropType.F90
index 6ceeccf7e3..175a35103b 100644
--- a/src/biogeochem/CropType.F90
+++ b/src/biogeochem/CropType.F90
@@ -282,6 +282,11 @@ subroutine InitHistory(this, bounds)
          avgflag='I', long_name='actual crop harvest dates; should only be output annually', &
          ptr_patch=this%hdates_thisyr, default='inactive')
 
+    this%nyrs_crop_active_patch(begp:endp,:) = spval
+    call hist_addfld1d (fname='NYRS_CROP_ACTIVE', units='year', &
+         avgflag='I', long_name='number of years crop active', &
+         ptr_patch=this%nyrs_crop_active_patch, default='inactive')
+
   end subroutine InitHistory
 
   subroutine InitCold(this, bounds)