Join BFMA in supporting local agriculture
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Join BFMA in supporting local agriculture
2026 BFMA Summer Tour Info
The 56th Annual Blackland Farm Managers Tour will be held on Wednesday, August 5th in Beaufort County along Peoples Road, located between Bath and Burbage Crossroads. This year’s event will be hosted by Scattered Acres and Poole Farms. In the event of inclement weather, the tour will be held on Friday, August 7th.
The format for this year’s tour will look very different from past events. Attendees will have the freedom to move at their own pace through exhibits, research plots, live demonstrations, and sponsor tents. NC State University Extension specialists will be on-site presenting a wide range of timely and relevant topics, while agricultural industry representatives will showcase the latest products, hybrids, and varieties directly in the field.
Participants will get an up-close look at emerging technologies and management practices shaping modern agriculture. Join us and see why the Blackland Farm Managers Tour has continued to grow into one of the largest and most impactful agricultural events of its kind in North Carolina.
While wagons will rotating from station to station, attendees are invited to bring their personal utility vehicle (UTV), side-by-side, golf cart, or other personal off-road vehicle to move throughout the Tour site. If you intend to bring a personal off-road vehicle to the Tour, please read this Participant Waiver, Release, and Assumption of Risk. If you plan to bring your own personal off-road vehicle you must pre-register here. At the end of registration, there will be a check-box for you to confirm that you have read and agree to the terms of this waiver.
Pesticide (2 hours X, N, D, O) and CCA (3.5) credits will be available!
2026 Blackland Farm Managers Tour Draft Program
Please pick up a program at registration for the final version!
Customize your Blackland Tour by choosing what presentations you want to attend!
Wagons will shuttle you between stops—just head to one of the two loops and take the wagon to your selected sessions! (Soybean Midway Loop-D&E and Cordon Loop- A-C) Wagons will depart for the Cordon Loop 15 minutes before the session begins.
Visit with sponsors both in the field and under the sponsorship tent throughout the day!
7:00 am - Registration opens
8:00-8:45 am - Choose a demonstration (#1 or #2)
9:00-9:30 am - Choose an Extension Presentation (A-E)
10:00-10:30 am - Choose an Extension Presentation (A-E)
11:00-11:30 am - Choose an Extension Presentation (A-E)
11:30AM-1:00 pm - Floating lunch
12:00 pm - Commissioner Troxler & others
12:30-1:15 pm - Choose a demonstration (#1 or #2)
Demonstrations:
#1 - See & Spray: Lessons Learned from University Testing | Dr. Charlie Cahoon (Extension Weed Specialist - Corn & Cotton)and Diego Contreras (NCSU Graduate Student)
See & Spray technology is here and farmers need to understand its fit and potential limitations. This session will summarize university research over the last 4 years including evaluation of See & Spray across different sensitivity settings, crop and weed parameters, and the value of PRE herbicides. (This demo is off the Soybean Midway wagon loop)
#2 - Drain Tile Installation Demo | Presenters: Dr. Chad Poole & Allegheny Services
Allegheny Services, a full service design and installation firm from New York, will be tiling on-site during the tour day. Come see the equipment in action, & learn about the entire process, including engineering, design, & implementation of a farm scale tile drainage system. (This demo is across the road from registration)
Extension Presentations:
CORDON WAGON LOOP (Sessions A-C)
Session A - Examining Corn Hybrid Nitrogen Needs by Seeding Rate and Hybrid | Ryan Heiniger, NCSU OVT Director
The goal of this project is to identify ideal nitrogen & seeding rates by hybrid across multiple soil types and environments. What combination of nitrogen rate and seeding rate gives growers the best return on investment while not sacrificing overall yield potential? Do those ideal rates change by environment or hybrid? Come by and see how these different factors are affecting ear size in our plots in 2026.
Session B - When Water Changes the Game: Population and PGR Strategies for Indeterminate Soybeans | Dr. Chad Poole (NCSU Water Resiliency Extension Specialist)
How do irrigation, seeding rate, and plant growth regulators (PGRs) affect indeterminate soybean performance? This research compares soybean populations under dryland, limited irrigation, and full irrigation systems to determine the best management strategies for maximizing yield while reducing lodging.
Session C - Managing Deer Damage in Soybean Production | DJ Stokes, NC State Extension Soybean Research Associate & Dr. Cory Heaton, Extension Wildlife Specialist, Clemson University
Deer feeding can significantly reduce soybean stands and yield potential, particularly during early vegetative growth. This study evaluates commercially available deer repellent products applied throughout the growing season. Attendees will learn how they worked and practical implementation.
MIDWAY WAGON LOOP (Sessions D-E)
Session D - Soybean Foliar Disease Management Decisions | Dr. LeAnn Lux, NC State Extension Pathologist - Soybeans & Peanuts
Impacts of foliar soybean diseases on yield can be sporadic. The NC State Extension is investigating the optimal fungicide application timings across maturity groups and planting dates and cover discussion topics such as; NC soybean disease updates, what is driving soybean disease pressure, and disease management practices that could provide greater returns on investment.
Session E - Beyond NPK: What Else Should Be Included in Your Fertility Program? | Dr. Luke Gatiboni, NC State Extension Soil Fertility Specialist
Luke will present recent research on the effects of soil calcium and magnesium saturation on soybean yield. He will also discuss field trial results evaluating micronutrients and other beneficial, non-essential nutrients, and the conditions under which they are most likely to improve crop performance. Come learn how you can make more informed, cost-effective fertilizer decisions to maximize return on investment!
If you plan to attend this year's tour, please pre-register here.
North Carolina Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity provider.
Persons with disabilities and persons with limited English proficiency may request accommodations to participate by contacting Andrea Gibbs, at 252-926-4486, andrea_gibbs@ncsu.edu or in person at the County Extension Office at least 10 business days prior to the event.
Become a Summer Tour Sponsor
The event will offer an excellent opportunity to interact with farmers and agribusiness leaders from across the state and beyond and will include educational presentations on corn and soybean production and management.
If you would like to be a sponsor of our 2026 Summer Tour click the link below.
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