A summarization of the prior knowledge about potential cover crop benefits is needed for broader understanding of cover crop impacts on soil agricultural production and knowledge gaps that need further research. The objectives of this review were to; review the current state of knowledge of the potential ecosystem services the cover crops provide including erosion control, enhancement of soil physical properties, impacts on soil carbon dynamics, increased soil microbial biomass, increased crop yields, and enhanced economics based on published research data from temperate soils.