AGRICULTURE SECRETARY Ann M. Veneman has transferred $13.7 million from USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to address avian influenza.

Part of the funding, $10.8 million, will be used to develop a national low pathogenic avian influenza control and prevention program.

“This program will address biosecurity and monitoring issues within the commercial poultry industry and the live bird market system to safeguard poultry in the United States,” said Veneman.

Officials with APHIS' National Poultry Improvement Plan will develop and implement a monitoring system for the H5 and H7 strains of low pathogenic avian influenza in the broiler, turkey and egg layer industries.