Iowa farmers planted a record 600,000 cover crop acres last fall, using cost-share programs and on their own, according to statewide surveys and aerial imagery completed by conservation groups this spring, the Iowa office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service said last week.

Washington County, in southeast Iowa, planted the most cover crops using government planning and financial aid with 21,353 acres. Cedar and Iowa counties in eastern Iowa were next with 12,691 and 10,055 acres, respectively.

Buena Vista County and Crawford County farmers in western Iowa planted cover crops on 8,607 and 8,079 acres, respectively, for the fourth and fifth most cover crop acres planted.

Check out the estimated cover crop acres for every county here.