Cover crops like winter rye are praised for reducing erosion and building soil organic matter, but on my 500-acre corn and soybean farm in central Iowa, the extra seeding cost of $35 per acre and spring termination hassle have made me question whether they truly pay off. The NRCS data shows a 5% yield increase over ten years, yet my short-term margins barely survive. Should farmers be forced to plant cover crops to receive subsidized crop insurance?