Carvel Research and Education Center

Welcome to the Carvel Research and Education Center: youtube.com/watch?v=qJ0F22yF3do

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.

 

 

Location

Carvel Research and Education Center
16483 County Seat Highway
Georgetown, Delaware 19947

 302-856-7303

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.

- Mark Isaacs 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

Latest news
  • Delaware Master Gardeners facilitate workshops at the five-acre farm at the Food Bank of Delaware’s Newark site as part of a cooperative partnership between the two organizations.

    Coming Together at the Table

    September 26, 2024 | Article by Tabitha Groh Photos courtesy of University of Delaware Cooperative Extension
    The Food Bank of Delaware was founded in 1981 with the goal of feeding the hungry. Since then, its core mission has remained the same, but the need and the vision have grown. Through the years, the University of Delaware has collaborated with the Food Bank in many ways, from Parking Services’ annual canned food drive, to food rescue from University dining halls, to more established projects with academic and UD Cooperative Extension partners.
  • Preparing your Autumn Garden

    September 19, 2024 | Written by Carrie Murphy, Extension Agent, Lawn and Garden Program Leader
    Creating a garden for all seasons implies that you provide interest in your gardens in spring, summer, fall and winter. This interest may appear in ornamental and vegetable gardens in several different forms, including showy flowers, colorful foliage and striking stems and fruit.
  • National Recovery Month

    September 18, 2024 | Written by: Lindsay Hughes, Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development
    National Recovery Month is held every September to celebrate people on their path to recovery and remind them they are not alone. When in recovery, support makes a big difference. This month, people may use drugs to cope with mental health, stress, and trauma.

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.

See our history page for details