Carvel Research and Education Center
Welcome
UD's 347-acre Agriculture Research Experimental Station and Sussex Cooperative Extension
Carvel Research and Extension Tours
Bird Flu: What you need to know
UD poultry agent shares 6 facts about
avian Influenza
Poultry Health
Research + Extension
Sharing the latest research with our community
The Elbert N. and Ann V. Carvel Research and Education Center
The Carvel Center campus, located in Georgetown in Sussex County, fulfills the tripartite mission of our land-grant university — teaching, research and Extension outreach. The Carvel Center serves as the southern agriculture experiment station for the University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and encompasses the Thurman Adams Jr. Agriculture Research Farm (347 acres) with a focus on agronomic, vegetable and horticulture crops, the Warrington Irrigation Research Farm (120 acres) in Harbeson, Lasher Laboratory for poultry diagnostics, and the Jones Hamilton Environmental Research House. Our campus is also home to Sussex County Cooperative Extension providing programing in 4-H Youth Development, Poultry, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Lawn and Garden.
With an overall staff of 50 full-time administrators, agents, faculty, and specialists, assisted by 50 to 70 seasonal part-time employees and student interns, the Carvel Center paves the way in serving the needs of the agricultural industry, youth and families, students and residents of our great state. Learn more about our history.
Our research and educational facilities
Trapezing Trees
Article by Michele Walfred, Tracy Wootten and Jeremy Wayman Video by Michele Walfred
When people need a large tree removed or pruned on their property, they often encounter sticker shock. It’s expensive, and therefore tempting, to take on the towering tree task themselves.
Stop. It is not a DIY project. Put away the ladder and call in a pro! Scaling up a towering oak, maple, sycamore, or elm tree and doing so safely, and removing or pruning without incident, is an art form best left to the experts.
Montage of Extension Staff in Action in Delaware: youtube.com/watch?v=UHPYhBIWRj0
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Protecting Poultry
November 11, 2025 | Written by Michele Walfred | Photos by Michele WalfredUniversity of Delaware students enrolled in the course Understanding Today’s Agriculture visited a local organic poultry farm for an up-close, candid look into the state's largest agricultural sector. The farm’s owner, Georgie Cartanza, is UD Cooperative Extension’s poultry extension agent and a chicken grower herself with four poultry houses. She taught students about the importance of biosecurity on a farm. -
The county agent
November 10, 2025 | Written by Michele Walfred | Photos by Michele Walfred and courtesy of National 4-HUD Cooperative Extension’s embrace of tradition and innovation extends across the state of Delaware. As agriculture is the leading economic driver in Delaware and is responsible for nearly $13 billion annually, Extension plays a big role in a small state. County agriculture agents serve as a bridge to farmers, helping them access the latest research and information about agriculture. -
In Memoriam: James Glancey
November 07, 2025 | Written by Molly Schafer | Photos courtesy of Anna Armstrong and UD ArchivesJames Glancey, a professor emeritus in the University of Delaware's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Engineering, passed away on October 26, 2025. Remembered for his keen intellect and academic versatility, Glancey was equally at home in the engineering classroom and in the field with Delaware farmers. A UD alumnus, he also served as the agricultural engineer for UD Cooperative Extension from 2003 to 2023.
Upcoming Events
History of the Agriculture Research Center in Georgetown
A Delaware General Assembly act provided the establishment of an agricultural substation for southern Delaware. The first structure at the new "Substation" opened in 1942, which is still in use — now as storage space.
A more thorough, published history written by former Extension specialist and former Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Kee, is now available in the fall of 2019.