The Central Maryland Research and Education Center – Clarksville Facility is located in Howard County approximately 30 miles from the University of Maryland, College Park campus. At 925 acres, this is the largest research facility owned and operated by Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station (MAES). It is home to the University's dairy cattle and equine research herds.
AGNR holds its only college-wide open house at the Clarksville Facility in the fall each year. Several thousand people attend the event to learn more about the College’s academic, research, and Extension programs.
Research
Numerous faculty carry research projects at the facility, including those from University of Maryland Extension and Entomology, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, Environmental Science & Technology, and Animal and Avian Sciences. The federal agencies of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also utilize the facility.
Research at Clarksville
Areas investigated are forage production, alfalfa and corn variety trials, small grains and soybean varietal improvement, forage related insect pest management, nutrient management, pasture management, composting, nursery crops, wetlands, thermodynamics, turfgrass, organic management of honeybees, equine management practices, as well as dairy cattle nutrition, reproduction, behavior, and physiology.
During 1998, the facility became the site of a 45 acre habitat restoration site including some restored wetlands along the banks of the Middle Patuxent River, which flows through the farm. This project received collaborative support and funding from two USDA agencies (Natural Resource Conservation Service and Farm Services Agency), Howard County Soil Conservation District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the University of Maryland. It is a project that directly supports former Governor Glendening's efforts to re-establish wetlands as part of the Chesapeake Bay quality improvement program.
Address, Directions & Contact
Address
CMREC - Clarksville Facility
4240 Folly Quarter Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
301.531.3211
From I-95
- From I-95 take Route 32 West.
- From Route 32, take Route 108 east (exit 20) toward Clarksville.
- From Route 108, turn left at Sheppard Lane.
- At traffic circle, take 2nd exit onto Folly Quarter Road and travel about 0.4 miles.
- CMREC Clarksville Facility is located on the left.
From I-70 East (Frederick)
- Take I-70 east from Frederick and take Exit 82 (Ellicott City).
- Merge onto Route 40 East.
- Turn right onto Marriottsville Road.
- Turn left at Frederick Road - MD-144.
- Turn right at Folly Quarter Road and travel 2.8 miles.
- CMREC Clarksville Facility is located on the right.
From I-70 West (Baltimore)
- From I-70 West from Baltimore and take Exit 83 (Marriottsville Road).
- Keep left at fork, follow signs for Marriottsville Road S.
- Turn left at Marriottsville Road.
- Turn left at Frederick Rd./MD-144.
- Turn right at Folly Quarter Road.
- CMREC Clarksville Facility is located on the right.
From Route 29
- Follow Route 29 north or south to Route 108 west.
- Take Route 108 and turn right onto Homewood Road.
- Follow Homewood Road to the traffic circle.
- Take first right onto Folly Quarter Road and CMREC Clarksville Facility is located about 1/4 mile on the left.