The 2017 Blackand Farm Managers Tour is set for Aug. 2 at Green Valley Farms (7014 NC-94) in Columbia, N.C. The focus of the field day will be corn, soybean and sorghum production.

 Registration and the vendor fair begins  at 7 a.m. Opening remarks begin at 8 a.m. with field sessions beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 12:30. A  catered lunch will be provided.

 The luncheon speaker is Yadkin County farmer Kevin Matthews. Matthews is the 2016 Irrigated Division champion in the North Carolina Corn Yield Contest. Last year, Matthews Family Farm produced 320.20 bushels per acre on 22 inch rows to win the North Carolina yield contest.

 In the morning field tours and presentations, North Carolina State University experts will speak on maximizing corn and soybean yields. Presenters will be Rod Gurganus, Anna Beth Williams, Scott Tilley, Ron Heiniger, Carl Crozier, David Hardy, Wes Everman, Dominic Reisig, Jim Dunphy and Lindsey Thiessen.

 Topics include corn sidedress nitrogen placement and timing tests, sorghum varieties, micronutrients and fertilizer placement in corn, corn starter fertilizer, potassium response in corn, weed management, looper recommendations and insect management, foliar yield enhancement and maximum dryland soybean yields, and nematode management.

 Door prizes and pesticide credits will be available. In addition, can goods and other non-perishable items for the Food Bank of Albemarle will be collected at the registration table.

 The Blackland Farm Managers Tour is considered the preeminent field day held in North Carolina each year.