Carvel Research and Education Center
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
Upcoming Events
Montage of Extension Staff in Action in Delaware: youtube.com/watch?v=UHPYhBIWRj0
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Make Homeowners Insurance Part of Your Annual Financial Review
September 02, 2026 | Written by: Kelly Sipple, Extension Agent in Health & Well-Being Financial LiteracyYour homeowner’s insurance should not be treated as a "set it and forget it" expense. Review your policy at least once a year, and whenever you make significant changes to your home or belongings. Make sure your coverage is sufficient to rebuild your home at current construction costs, rather than simply reflecting its market value. -
Training farmers on produce safety
September 01, 2026 | Written by Katie PeikesThe University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and UD Cooperative Extension offer the Produce Safety Alliance Training at least three times a year, to educate farmers on food safety to reduce the chances of produce contamination on their farms and illness that could be associated with their produce. The training is required for farms over a certain size and gives them up-to-date training in the latest food safety trends. -
Food Safety Workshops for Food Entrepreneurs
August 28, 2026 | Written by: Adrienne Shearer, Assistant Professor of Food Science, University of DelawareThere are two food entrepreneur programs in Delaware that provide opportunities for Delaware residents to become licensed to prepare certain commercial food products in their home kitchens. These two programs include the Cottage Food Establishment (CFE) program, which is administered by the DE Division of Public Health (DPH), and the On-Farm Kitchen Program, which is administered by the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA)
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.