University of Delaware College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

09/09/2026

Construction is underway on the Townsend East Lawn and Garden! This project is transforming a portion of Townsend Hall’s rear parking lot and turning it into an iconic green space connecting the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Delaware Botanic Gardens, UDairy Creamery and UD Cooperative Extension.

Learn more about this fantastic project.
https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/about/facilities-labs/townsend-east-lawn-and-garden



Photos courtesy of Bancroft Construction.

09/09/2026

Join us September 24–25 for a two-day symposium celebrating the 150th birthday of pioneering landscape architect Marian Coffin and exploring her remarkable achievements, influence, and enduring relevance to landscape architecture and historic garden and landscape preservation.

A featured keynote on September 25 will be presented by Dr. Sonja Dümpelmann, Professor and Chair of Environmental Humanities at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.

In “Streets of Philadelphia: Window Gardening and Civil Rights in the Twentieth Century,” Dümpelmann explores how window gardening evolved from a tool of Progressive reform and social charity into a form of grassroots activism responding to urban decay, racism and public disinvestment. Her talk examines how these small acts of beautification connected people and plants, domestic and public spaces, and ideas of nature, beauty and social change.

Join us for two days of talks, tours and discussion exploring Coffin’s legacy and the landscapes she helped shape. The Marian Coffin symposium has been approved for 10.75 Professional Development Hours (PDH) by the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES™).

Learn more and register to attend by Sept. 14.
https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/departments/plant-and-soil-sciences/undergraduate-programs/landscape-architecture/marian-coffin-150-celebration/

09/03/2026

Autumn is the ideal time to fill those empty pockets in your garden or cultivate a new space. Shop plants offering stunning fall interest, including beautiful berries, foliage, flowers and seed heads. Plus, enjoy 50-75% off limited quantities of trees and shrubs left over from the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens' Spring Sale!

Online shopping is open now through Sept. 9 at 9 p.m. Order online, then pick up your plants and shop our in-person selection Sept. 17 or Sept. 22 at Fischer Greenhouse.

Shop now at https://canr.udel.edu/udbg-store/

09/03/2026

Delaware ranks among the nation’s highest-risk states for several tick-borne illnesses, according to research co-authored by University of Delawarel alumna and tick biologist Ashley Kennedy.

Ticks are active in Delaware year-round, and their size makes them hard to spot.

“Larvae are smaller than a poppy seed,” said Madeline Brown, a graduate student and a member of UD's Disease Ecology Lab, led by Vincenzo Ellis, assistant professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology.

The good news? Ticks don't have to keep you indoors.

“Being armed with knowledge about ticks can go a long way in keeping you safe,” Kennedy said. “Once you understand how ticks find a host, you can avoid them more easily.”

UD researchers explain how to avoid bites—and what to do if you can’t.

Read five things everyone should know before heading outdoors on CANR News.
www.udel.edu/udaily/2026/august/ticks-madeline-brown-ashley-kennedy-entomology-wildlife-ecology/

09/02/2026

Cases of cyclosporiasis are spiking across the U.S., with many of those cases reportedly linked to consumption of iceberg lettuce. Produce contamination by bacteria, viruses and parasites contributes to 46% of foodborne illnesses and 23% of deaths. To farmers, that means ensuring their produce is safe to eat is crucial. Delaware growers plant more than 60,000 acres of fruits and vegetables around the state every year.

September is National !
Read how University of Delaware and UD Cooperative Extension are training farmers on produce safety.

www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/canr/news/2026/september/farmers-produce-safety-alliance-training-kali-kniel-jenn-jones/

The 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 assoc...

08/28/2026

How did a particular species of kissing bug native to the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico get to Portugal?

That question became the centerpiece of a scientific investigation led by University of Delaware assistant professor and medical entomologist Jennifer K. Peterson and her team of Blue Hen sleuths from her Medical Entomology class. Their research was published in the journal Parasites and Vectors.

Read the story.
www.udel.edu/udaily/2026/august/kissing-bug-europe-entomology-research-jennifer-peterson

08/20/2026

Nearly 80% of Delawareans view climate change as a serious threat, according to the 2025 Delaware Climate Change Perceptions Survey. It’s a concern rooted in geography as much as public opinion. Delaware is the lowest-lying state in the nation, with 381 miles of tidal shoreline vulnerable to rising seas, stronger storms and persistent flooding.

Now, the state is taking an aggressive approach to preparing for what comes next — and alumni from the University of Delaware are helping lead the charge.

Over two dozen UD alumni, including hydrologists, engineers, environmental scientists, transportation policy specialists and state planners—played active roles in the development and implementation of the updated Delaware Climate Action Plan.

Get the full story on UDaily.

www.udel.edu/udaily/2026/august/alumni-2025-delaware-climate-action-plan

08/14/2026

Cheers to 75 years! 🎉 This year marks the 75th anniversary of Delaware State Parks and for faculty and students at the University of Delaware there is much to celebrate. The parks provide a living laboratory for research, opportunities for experiential learning and a space for community service.

Our partnerships with the state parks include research on water quality, vector-borne diseases, and the preservation of historic buildings. As a land-grant university, UD’s mission includes sharing knowledge, research and resources with the community. Through UD Cooperative Extension's Delaware Master Naturalist Program, 785 volunteer hours have been logged in the parks so far for 2026 . Volunteers plant trees, manage invasive plants and create pollinator gardens.

“The state parks have been incredibly valuable in our work in that they allowed us to estimate the distribution of kissing bugs in Delaware,” said Jennifer K. Peterson, assistant professor and medical entomologist in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology. Peterson studies the connection between kissing bugs and Chagas disease.

Read more about UD in the Delaware State Parks on UDaily.
https://brnw.ch/21x4W5H