BELHAVEN — The Blackland Farm Managers Tour, in its 45^th year, is set for Aug. 5, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Circle Grove Seeds in Belhaven.

Area farmers are invited to attend the tour that provides education to maximize yields and profitability in farming local lands, ultimately adding to the agricultural economy.

“We’re trying to figure out how best to use the new technologies that are available for maximum yield and highest economic return,” Gurganus said. “Farming is big here in the east in these counties so having a healthy agricultural economy is good for the economy and the area overall. Last I saw, agriculture makes up for $120 million of the economy in Beaufort County. It’s a good thing to have a healthy farmer, who is profitable because those dollars turn over in the county six or seven times before they leave the county, according to economics professors.”

Gurganus said the Blackland Farm Managers Association, the organization that partners with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension to sponsor the event, was formed many years ago when the eastern part of the state was cleared for farming. It supports research at N.C. State to aid farmers in learning how best to farm the soils in the area, which are rich in organic matter due to draining swamplands and other elements that contribute to the area’s soil composition.

The tour will feature a full day of seminars, speakers and subject matter related to corn, soybeans and cotton farming, as well as the best techniques and practices to use for the type of soil in the region. The region specific to the tour includes areas east of N.C. Highway 32, including eastern Beaufort County, as well as Hyde, Washington and Tyrrell counties, said Rod Gurganus, director of the Beaufort County Cooperative Extension. Lunch will be provided for attendees, as well.

The tour will feature test plots that attendees can view, showcasing the work of specialists and researchers from N.C. State University with regard to fertilization, weed control, disease control, crop production and more, Gurganus said. The event will also host seminars, highlighting new inputs and techniques to enhance yields and maximize profitability in local farming. Information related to the best times to plant, fertilize and spray insecticides and how to identify disease will be shared, Gurganus said.

Also featured are exhibits, sponsored by various agribusiness companies in the area, which are a valuable networking component of the event, Gurganus said. Dr. Dewey Lee, of the University of Georgia, will speak about corn production in the area, and those in attendance will have the chance to earn credits toward pesticide licenses.

“It’s important for (area farmers) to come because this is an opportunity for them to hear first-hand from these researchers in the field of agriculture and learn about what they’re learning in their research,” Gurganus said. “There are many good reasons why farmers should come. This is an excellent opportunity to interact with farmers and agribusiness people from across the state.”

The Blackland Farm Managers Tour is asking for sponsors for the event. For more information on sponsorship or attending the event, contact Beth Foster at bbpchfoster@gmail.com or 252-796-7878 or contact Rod Gurganus at rod_gurganus@ncsu.edu or 252-946-0111 (office) or 252-943-5832 (cell).