More than 600 exhibits of the latest agricultural technology and products are dazzling the hundreds of visitors attending the 76th annual Empire Farm Days, the largest outdoor agricultural fair in the Northeast, Aug. 11-13, in Seneca Falls, N.Y.

This year's theme, "The New Ag Era," featured new crops, markets and methods and a host of Cornell-affiliated programs from the Colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Veterinary Medicine and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE).

Visitors to the Cornell Center, a one-stop location filled with more than 30 interactive booths, learn about the university's abundant resources for farmers, home gardeners and landowners. Specialists are on hand to discuss farm management issues, farm transitions, value-added agriculture products and product marketing. Special focus is being given to sustainable and local food production, bioenergy and animal health.

New in the Cornell Center this year is a "Hot Topics" booth, where Cornell faculty and extension educators discuss critical issues facing New York growers and residents. Members of CCE's Marcellus Shale Team are on hand to answer questions about natural gas drilling in the state's Southern Tier, while Cornell scientists explain the spread of the invasive emerald ash borer and the outbreak of tomato and potato late blight -- two big threats to the environment and agricultural production.

Attendees also can sample food products from the Cornell Marketplace, including New York cheese, apples, wine, fresh-roasted corn and food products developed with Cornell expertise.

For the younger set, the Cornell Ag in the Classroom program operates an interactive children's corner, where youngsters cab learn about New York's dairy industry through hands-on activities, crafts, demonstrations and storytelling.