The Iowa harvest is finally in full swing after being delayed a few weeks by rainy weather and muddy fields, but that delay is raising fears among conservationists that many farmers may skip planting cover crops this season. Mahaska County farmer Michael Jackson says he’s already nearly two full weeks behind on harvesting.

Getting his cereal rye seed in the ground for cover is two weeks late, too. Still, Jackson says he sees the soil health and water quality benefits from cover crops, though many other farmers aren’t convinced.