Carvel Research and Education Center
Welcome
UD's 347-acre Agriculture Research Experimental Station and Sussex Cooperative Extension
Poultry Health
Agronomic Crop Tour 2024
Research + Extension
Sharing the latest research with our community
Crop Research
Creating Partnerships
Reaching across programs and institutions for efficient solutions
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
Student Opportunities at the Carvel Center
Carvel Center Teaching Mission: youtube.com/watch?v=H9O6aZHyKms
Our facility continues the strong tradition of serving our agricultural clientele and their families as well as the citizens of Delaware.
Carvel REC director
Upcoming Events
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE TO AGRICULTURE
Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse surprised Dr. Mark Isaacs with the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture during the State Fair Awards presentation on Governor’s Day...
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to receive this Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award from Secretary Scuse. As a fourth-generation Delaware farmer, Director of the UD Carvel Research and Education Center, and Department of Plant and Soil Sciences faculty member, my roots run deep for the love of Delaware agriculture,” said Mark Isaacs.
Read all about Mark Isaacs' award on the Delaware Department of Agriculture website.
Montage of Extension Staff in Action in Delaware: youtube.com/watch?v=UHPYhBIWRj0
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UD’s impact at Delaware Ag Week
January 28, 2025 | Article by Michele Walfred and Katie Peikes Photos by Michele Walfred and Jackie CzachorowskiUD faculty and staff help Delaware agriculture professionals face emerging issues Emerging crop diseases keep farmers on their toes. One of them, southern blight, is a serious fungal disease with a menu of 500 host plants. “It can be tremendously problematic,” said Alyssa Betts, University of Delaware extension plant pathologist, during Delaware Agriculture Week, held January 13-16. “It is a very aggressive fungus; it can take down a whole plant in a fast amount of time.” -
Horticultural Honors
January 28, 2025 | Written by Michele Walfred, Communications Specialist, Photos by Jeremy WaymenUD Cooperative Extension, in partnership with the Delaware Nursery & Landscape Association, held its 35th Delaware Horticulture Industry Expo and Pesticide Conference, a two-day educational event for Delaware green industry professionals. Two notable UD CANR names, Barton and Budischak honored. -
Herbicide Resistance Keeps Evolving, Requiring Smarter Management Tools
January 23, 2025 | Dave Lefever, dlefever@lancasterfarming.comHARRINGTON, Del. — Mark VanGessel has been updating farmers on weeds’ herbicide resistance for 20 years and has plenty of reasons to keep doing so.
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.