The regenerative agriculture movement, including cover crops, has officially reached into the mainstream. Fashion brands such as Wrangler, Patagonia, and even Gucci are partnering with cotton farms that focus on soil health and carbon sequestration through using covers.

This free, two-day virtual event is the third annual National Cover Crop Summit, and promises to be the best one yet, with an outstanding speaker line up and intriguing topics.

Dozens of sheep graze a field of Sudan grass on Walla Walla Organics farm as part of a farming system that restores the soil. These practices, known as regenerative agriculture approaches, became a more recent goal for farmer and owner Dan McClure. Read more in this article from the Union-Bulletin (Walla Walla, WA).

Wrangler announced plans for a new jean that celebrates the benefits of regeneratively grown cotton. Global cotton farmers who can demonstrate and document soil-carbon and biodiversity improvements are invited to apply for their cotton to be purchased for a Wrangler Retro Premium submission as part of The Jeans Redesign project from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF).

The Wisconsin Cover Crop Summit, held in Stevens Point, Wis., featured a strong lineup of growers and agriculture industry experts to discuss different aspects of growing cover crops, from regenerative agriculture to aerial seeding to using covers as forages and more. Here are 5 takeaways from that event.

Forty-five farms in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and North Dakota are headed into their second growing season working with General Mills on the adoption of “regenerative agriculture” practices as they grow oats for the multi-national food company. The three-year Regenerative Oat Pilot project, which involves more than 50 thousand acres, was launched last year as part of General Mills’ larger effort to have one million acres under regenerative agriculture practices in its supply chain by 2030. Read more in this article from Real Agriculture.

Jay Fuhrer, soil health specialist with the Natural Resource Conservation Service of the USDA, spoke about soil health. Fuhrer has identified five principles of soil health, and how they work to improve soil health and increase productivity. Fuhrer defined soil health is defined as “the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.” Read more in this article from Grainews.

Joe Gardiner of Clearwater, Manitoba, has an insurance policy against a wet spring next year. Gardiner is one of a growing number of Manitoba farmers to embrace cover crops, having started the practice several years ago in an effort to increase fall grazing.

Gabe Brown, along with his wife, Shelly, and son, Paul, own and operate a diversified 5,000-acre farm and ranch near Bismarck, N.D.