Modern farming practices with lots of tillage and single cropping has removed much the organic matter that was in the soil.  Exposing organic matter to air releases it, and removing organic matter in the form of crops without replacing what is removed also reduces the organic matter content in the soil.

The basics of regenerative agriculture is to always have something growing on the soil.  Never leave it bare in the winter, plant cover crops, and then farm with no till practices so the roots that you have put in the soil and the debris that you leave on the surfaces stays in the soil in the form of organic matter.  Plant mixes of cover crops that provide natural fertilizer, improve water retention, and leave organic residue in the soil.

You will see thick growths of cover crops on our farm starting in the fall and by planting season our cover crops should be four feet high.  When we knock these down with our roller crimper, (an unusual implement for this purpose) we will form a thick bed of straw forming a matt that helps prevent weed growth, reduces water runoff, and cools ground temperatures so less water evaporates and so remains for our crops growth.  (see photos below).

We will use herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers but at reduced rates and with time and several crops, we hope to dramatically reduce them.  This is key to making regenerative agriculture economically viable.  Reduced costs of inputs, reduced passes over the land with heavy equipment, will more than offset the cost of seed for cover crops and any losses in yields that might occur.