RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is requiring all poultry owners, regardless of the number of birds, to register for an NCFarmID number. The new requirement is part of an enhanced effort by state agriculture officials, including state veterinarin Doug Meckes, to fight off a potential outbreak of the deadly avian flu.

The goal, say agriculture officials, is to give them a way to alert poultry owners about an outbreak, especially owners in close proximity to a positive farm.

Poultry owners can also sign up for a national premises ID number, but it is not required. Anyone already part of the National Poultry Improvement Plan is exempt from this requirement.

An online sign-up form will be available after Aug. 1.

Bird flu is highly contagious and has devastated poultry operations in other areas of the country.

More information is available at www.ncagr.gov/avianflu.