This study uses partial budgets to assess the annual net private economic returns to cover crop use in Midwest row crop farms. Data were compiled through an online survey to farm operators that manage production systems with and without cover crops. The average net returns to cover crops terminated with herbicides followed by corn was negative, but the average net return to cover crops terminated with herbicides followed by soybeans was positive. Cost-share payments tend to be insufficient to cover all private costs associated with cover crop use, but are a critical incentive to support this practice.