2026 Agronomic Field Crop Tours

Carvel Research and Education Tours

Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 1 to 6 p.m.

Location:
University of Delaware Carvel Research & Education Center:
16483 County Seat Highway, Georgetown, Delaware
 

Main Tent in the Grove

1:00 p.m. Welcome and Introductions – James Adkins – Director of the University of Delaware Carvel Research and Education Center

1:20 p.m. Value of Agriculture to Delaware – Secretary Wm. Donald Clifton – Secretary of Agriculture for Delaware

1:50 p.m. Overview of Delmarva Poultry Production – Georgie Cartanza – University of Delaware Poultry Extension Agent

2:40 p.m. Crop Insurance Tools & Grain Marketing – Nate Bruce – University of Delaware Farm Business Management Specialist

3:00 p.m. Economic Impacts of Delaware Equine Industry – Kofi Britwum – Assistant Professor of Farm Management and Agricultural Economics

3:25 p.m. PRIM3: Pod Reconstruction and Instance Matching in 3D for Lima Bean Pod Counting and Yield Assessment – Ashish Reddy Mulaka – University of Delaware Graduate Student

3:35 p.m. Screening for Waterlogging Tolerance in Diverse Maize Germplasm – Manoj Subedi – University of Delaware Graduate Student 

4:20 p.m. Small Grains – University of Delaware Extension Specialists

Wagon Field Tours

GENERAL PUBLIC WAGON TOURS

Wagon tour of the research farm and research plots 

2:20  p.m. to 3:20  p.m. – Tour #1

3:30  p.m. to 4:30  p.m. – Tour #2

*Tour #2 is a repeat of Tour #1

AGRONOMIC CROP WAGON TOURS

Agronomic Crop Tour #1 

1:20  p.m. to 2:30  p.m.

• Corn Hybrid Performance Testing Program and Corn Genome to Field (G2F) Initiative – Tecle Weldekidan and Qi Mu – University of Delaware Scientist and Assistant Professor of Molecular Plant Breeding and Genomics

• Foliar Nutrient and Plant Growth Regulators in Corn and Soybeans – Dr. Cory Whaley – University of Delaware Sussex County Ag Extension Agent

• Multi-year strategies to reduce Soybean Cyst and Root Knot Nematode Populations – Dr. Alyssa Betts – University of Delaware Extension Plant Pathologist

• How Best to Apply Herbicides in a Rolled Cereal Rye Cover Crop – Dr. Mark VanGessel – University of Delaware Extension Weed Specialist

Agronomic Crop Tour #2 

3 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.

• Soybean Variety Trial Testing Program, Corn Planting Timing and Sulfur Needs, and Soybean Response to Calcium from Lime and Gypsum – Dr. Jarrod Miller – University of Delaware Extension Agronomist

• Soybean Inoculants – Dr. Cory Whaley – University of Delaware Sussex County Ag Agent

• Season-Long Disease Defense in Corn – Dr. Alyssa Betts – University of Delaware Extension Plant Pathologist

• Spider Mite and Late Season Agronomic Soybean Pests – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist

   

SORGHUM/SOYBEAN AND ALTERNATIVE CROP TOUR

4:50 pm to 6:00 pm

• How to Reduce Anthracnose Risk in Sorghum – Dr. Alyssa Betts – University of Delaware Extension Plant Pathologist
• Aphid Management in Sorghum – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist
• Faba Beans and Shelly Beans as New Crop Opportunities – Dr. Emmalea Ernest – University of Delaware Extension Fruit and Vegetable Specialist
• Soybean Population and Crop Residue – Dr. Jarrod Miller – University of Delaware Extension Agronomist
• Exploring alternative crops for new uses and conservation purposes: flax for fiber and Kernza, perennial grain crop – Dr. Alex Huddell – University of Delaware Assistant Professor of Agroecology/Sustainable Crop Production Systems
• FRST P and K Rates – Dr. Amy Shober – University of Delaware Professor and Extension Specialist, Nutrient Management

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CROP WAGON TOURS

Fresh Market Vegetable Crop Tour

1:20  p.m. to 2:30  p.m.

• Fresh Market Vegetable Variety Trials (Bicolor Sweet Corn, Spring Broccoli, Bell Pepper, Lettuce and Cantaloupe) and Plasticulture System Strategies – Dr. Emmalea Ernest and Heather Hickman – University of Delaware Extension Fruit and Vegetable Specialist and Research Associate

• Trellised Cucumbers, Peppers, Lettuce and Spring/Summer Planted Rye Row Middles – available to view

• Cantaloupe, Snap Bean, and Sweet Corn Response to Multiple Rates of Soil-Applied Herbicides – Dr. Mark VanGessel – University of Delaware Extension Weed Specialist

• Insect Management in Sweet Corn and Cantaloupes – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist

PROCESSING VEGETABLE CROP TOUR

3:00  p.m. to 4:10  p.m.

• Lima, Snap Bean, and Pea Variety Trials and 2026 Research on Nematode Resistance in all Advanced Breeding Lines, Impacts of Upright Plant Architecture on Seed Quality and a Direct Comparison of No-till vs Tillage Production – Dr. Emmalea Ernest – University of Delaware Extension Fruit and Vegetable Specialist

• Demonstration of a Precision Sprayer Designed to Target Individual Weeds – Dr. Mark VanGessel – University of Delaware Extension Weed Specialist

• Seed Corn Maggot Management – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist

MELON CROP TOUR

4:50 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• From Flower to Fruit: Grafted Watermelon Row Spacing Trial – Lyndsie Mikkelsen – University of Delaware Extension Fruit and Vegetable Agent
• Weed Control for Row Middles – Dr. Mark VanGessel – University of Delaware Extension Weed Specialist
• Insect Management in Melons – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist
• Optimizing Fungicide Selection for Anthracnose Management in Watermelon – Dr. Alyssa Betts – University of Delaware Extension Plant Pathologist
   

Commercial Poultry Session

Carvel Meeting Room #3

2:30  p.m. to 4:30  p.m.

2:30 p.m.  Welcome and Overview of Poultry Research Facilities – Georgie Cartanza

2:40 p.m.  Update on Darkling Beetles – Michael Crossley

2:50 p.m. Environmental Control – Hong Li

3:00 p.m. One Health and Poultry – M. Shafeekh Muyyarikkandy

3:10 p.m. Host Pathogen Interactions in Poultry – Alexander Bekele-Yitbarek

3:20 p.m. Poultry Health Update – Nannette Olmeda Geniec

3:35 p.m. Static Pressure Testing – Jim Karsnitch

3:55 p.m. Poultry Litter Sampling – Sydney Riggi

4:15 p.m. Looking Ahead: Protecting Your Flock Through the Next Season – Georgie Cartanza

4:30 p.m. End

Wagon Field Tours

GENERAL PUBLIC WAGON TOURS

Wagon tour of the research farm and research plots 

2:20  p.m. to 3:20  p.m. – Tour #1

3:30  p.m. to 4:30  p.m. – Tour #2

*Tour #2 is a repeat of Tour #1

Agronomic Crop Tour #1 

1:20  p.m. to 2:30  p.m.

• Corn Hybrid Performance Testing Program and Corn Genome to Field (G2F) Initiative – Tecle Weldekidan and Qi Mu – University of Delaware Scientist and Assistant Professor of Molecular Plant Breeding and Genomics

• Foliar Nutrient and Plant Growth Regulators in Corn and Soybeans – Dr. Cory Whaley – University of Delaware Sussex County Ag Extension Agent

• Multi-year strategies to reduce Soybean Cyst and Root Knot Nematode Populations – Dr. Alyssa Betts – University of Delaware Extension Plant Pathologist

• How Best to Apply Herbicides in a Rolled Cereal Rye Cover Crop – Dr. Mark VanGessel – University of Delaware Extension Weed Specialist

Agronomic Crop Tour #2 

3 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.

• Soybean Variety Trial Testing Program, Corn Planting Timing and Sulfur Needs, and Soybean Response to Calcium from Lime and Gypsum – Dr. Jarrod Miller – University of Delaware Extension Agronomist

• Soybean Inoculants – Dr. Cory Whaley – University of Delaware Sussex County Ag Agent

• Season-Long Disease Defense in Corn – Dr. Alyssa Betts – University of Delaware Extension Plant Pathologist

• Spider Mite and Late Season Agronomic Soybean Pests – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist

   

SORGHUM/SOYBEAN AND ALTERNATIVE CROP TOUR

4:50 pm to 6:00 pm

• How to Reduce Anthracnose Risk in Sorghum – Dr. Alyssa Betts – University of Delaware Extension Plant Pathologist
• Aphid Management in Sorghum – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist
• Faba Beans and Shelly Beans as New Crop Opportunities – Dr. Emmalea Ernest – University of Delaware Extension Fruit and Vegetable Specialist
• Soybean Population and Crop Residue – Dr. Jarrod Miller – University of Delaware Extension Agronomist
• Exploring alternative crops for new uses and conservation purposes: flax for fiber and Kernza, perennial grain crop – Dr. Alex Huddell – University of Delaware Assistant Professor of Agroecology/Sustainable Crop Production Systems
• FRST P and K Rates – Dr. Amy Shober – University of Delaware Professor and Extension Specialist, Nutrient Management

Fruit and Vegetable Crop Wagon Tours

Fresh Market Vegetable Crop Tour

1:20  p.m. to 2:30  p.m.

• Fresh Market Vegetable Variety Trials (Bicolor Sweet Corn, Spring Broccoli, Bell Pepper, Lettuce and Cantaloupe) and Plasticulture System Strategies – Dr. Emmalea Ernest and Heather Hickman – University of Delaware Extension Fruit and Vegetable Specialist and Research Associate

• Trellised Cucumbers, Peppers, Lettuce and Spring/Summer Planted Rye Row Middles – available to view

• Cantaloupe, Snap Bean, and Sweet Corn Response to Multiple Rates of Soil-Applied Herbicides – Dr. Mark VanGessel – University of Delaware Extension Weed Specialist

• Insect Management in Sweet Corn and Cantaloupes – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist

PROCESSING VEGETABLE CROP TOUR

3:00  p.m. to 4:10  p.m.

• Lima, Snap Bean, and Pea Variety Trials and 2026 Research on Nematode Resistance in all Advanced Breeding Lines, Impacts of Upright Plant Architecture on Seed Quality and a Direct Comparison of No-till vs Tillage Production – Dr. Emmalea Ernest – University of Delaware Extension Fruit and Vegetable Specialist

• Demonstration of a Precision Sprayer Designed to Target Individual Weeds – Dr. Mark VanGessel – University of Delaware Extension Weed Specialist

• Seed Corn Maggot Management – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist

MELON CROP TOUR

4:50 p.m. to 6 p.m.

• From Flower to Fruit: Grafted Watermelon Row Spacing Trial – Lyndsie Mikkelsen – University of Delaware Extension Fruit and Vegetable Agent
• Weed Control for Row Middles – Dr. Mark VanGessel – University of Delaware Extension Weed Specialist
• Insect Management in Melons – Dr. David Owens – University of Delaware Extension Entomologist
• Optimizing Fungicide Selection for Anthracnose Management in Watermelon – Dr. Alyssa Betts – University of Delaware Extension Plant Pathologist

Commercial Poultry Session

Carvel Meeting Room #3

2:30  p.m. to 4:30  p.m.

2:30 p.m.  Welcome and Overview of Poultry Research Facilities – Georgie Cartanza

2:40 p.m.  Update on Darkling Beetles – Michael Crossley

2:50 p.m. Environmental Control – Hong Li

3:00 p.m. One Health and Poultry – M. Shafeekh Muyyarikkandy

3:10 p.m. Host Pathogen Interactions in Poultry – Alexander Bekele-Yitbarek

3:20 p.m. Poultry Health Update – Nannette Olmeda Geniec

3:35 p.m. Static Pressure Testing – Jim Karsnitch

3:55 p.m. Poultry Litter Sampling – Sydney Riggi

4:15 p.m. Looking Ahead: Protecting Your Flock Through the Next Season – Georgie Cartanza

4:30 p.m. End