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
-
Fall Harvest in Delaware: A Season of Hard Work, Change, and Celebration
October 13, 2025 | Written by Cory Whaley, University of Delaware Cooperative Agronomic and Vegetable Crops Extension AgentAcross Delaware, farm equipment can be seen and heard in fields and on roads as farmers work long hours to bring in their crops before the first frost. The traditional row crops of corn, soybeans, and sorghum are being harvested and hauled to local granaries, destined for livestock feed, biofuel production, and other agricultural uses. These crops play an essential role in both Delaware’s economy and the regional food system. -
Delaware 4-H Celebrates National 4-H Week and the Launch of “Beyond Ready”
October 07, 2025 | Written by: Ernesto Lopez, State 4-H Youth Development Program LeaderThe month of October is a special time on the annual 4-H calendar as fall crops are being brought in from the fields and youth across Delaware are fully engaged in their new school year. From apple harvests in Bridgeville to community service projects in Brandywine Hundred, 4-H clubs are stepping up and stepping out into neighborhoods across the state and making a positive difference! -
Patient Self-Advocacy Tips
October 07, 2025 | Written by: Sarah Goldring, Health and Well-being Extension AgentWe make health choices everyday - from choosing what to eat, brushing our teeth, getting exercise, taking medicine, and making doctor’s appointments. Some choices can be more overwhelming than others, but all of them are important when it comes to our overall wellbeing.
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.