Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties are known for acres of blacklands — meaning high-organic soils.

As farmers began clearing off land in these areas in the 1960s, they were faced with various problems in cultivating the land, including development techniques, deficiencies in soil nutrients, weed and insect control, water management and environmental issues, according to Joseph Landino.

To help combat these unanswered questions, blacklands farmers joined to form the Blackland Farm Managers Association in January 1970, Landino said. He was a member of the association for many years, but is now retired.

“The objective of the association was simple: to improve our understanding of the management requirements needed to develop high-organic soils to reach their full potential. We realized early the need for cooperation from North Carolina State University, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, area legislators and each other,” he said in a 2014 article. “We believed the blacklands would play a major role in the agricultural economy of our state and invited influential leaders to meetings and tours to show them what was going on.”

The Managers Association lost no time in getting started. Landino said they organized the first of the annual summer tours (with community leaders) in 1971.

“The Blackland Farm Managers Association has a lot to do with helping unlock the secrets of the high-organic soils,” he said. “A lot of research had to be done.”

Landino said one of the main goals of the farmers was to have access to specialists of soil science, horticulture, entomology and plants in the blacklands area. He said that goal came to fruition in October 1990 at the dedication of the Vernon James Research and Extension Center in Plymouth.

“We treasure the personal relationships we have developed with agriculture leaders across the state and thank them for their continued support as we work to make the blacklands the premier farming region in the state,” Landino said.

Although Landino is no longer an active member, he said it was exciting to watch the association grow from 25-30 members in 1970 to more than 200 members today.

He said most people don’t give a second thought to all that goes into cultivating this high-organic soil, but it supports a big industry that affects the lives of thousands even today.

“A lot of it is in Beaufort County, too,” Landino said. “A lot of people should be interested, but a lot of people don’t know.”

Landino also contributed to the recently released book, “North Carolina’s Blacklands Treasure,” by Philip S. McMullan Jr. Steve Barnes and Cy Rich Jr. also served as contributors.

Landino said he hopes the book will be another way to educate the public about the blacklands soil.

“The economic impact of blackland agriculture is huge, in some of the poorest counties in state,” he said. “Our members are some of the best farmers in the state, and many are leaders in the corn, soybean, cotton and small grain growers associations. … Our members farm some of the best soils in the state, have the best equipment and harvest the highest yields.”