RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - State agriculture officials have been warning farmers and poultry producers about the possibility of bird flu coming to North Carolina, and now they're reaching out to backyard poultry owners.

Five regional meetings will help inform backyard poultry owners about the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus that is expected to be introduced in the state this fall.

The sessions will feature veterinarians from the Agriculture Department and N.C. State University. They'll update owners on plans to protect commercial poultry and backyard flocks as well.

Registration is at www.ncagr.gov/avianflu. The meetings are as follows:

* Sept. 1, Guilford County Center, 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro
Contact: Karen Neill, 336-641-2400
* Sept. 2, Union County Center, 3230 Presson Road, Monroe
Contact: Kelly Liddington, 704-283-2801
* Sept. 4, Nash County Center, 1006 Eastern Ave., Nashville
Contact: Charlie Tyson, 252-459-9810
* Sept. 8, Duplin County Center, 165 Agriculture Dr., Kenansville
Contact: Amanda Hatcher, 910-296-2143
* Sept. 11, Burke County Center, 130 Ammons Dr., Morganton
Contact: Spring Williams, 828-439-4460