Midwest farms play a crucial role in providing food to the U.S. and the world. The efficient use of electricity and other energy sources has enabled farms to responded to consumer demand and the Midwest Rural Energy Council (MREC) has been providing education, and research on rural energy issues to rural energy suppliers, rural energy consumers and their service providers since the 1950’s.
The MREC is a cooperative effort between Extension programs at the University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota, South Dakota State University and Iowa State University, and farm programs of member electric power suppliers in these states. The MREC holds annual conferences, develops fact sheets and other informational materials, and offers a series of courses (including three courses on Stray Voltage Investigation) in key and current energy topics.
One of the key tools to share and make all these informational resources to the public is the MREC website, which has been recently updated and upgraded. The new website incorporates a virtual farm that locates the different energy related components and topics that a farm must deal with or could incorporate. For example, energy consumption at the milking parlor, electricity farm service, transmission and distribution lines, and generation of renewable energy with solar PV, wind, and anaerobic digestion technology. This state-of-the-art graphic invites the user to start exploring and “clicking” each of these topics for further details. In addition, the website presents information on agricultural wiring and stray voltage, energy efficiency, and energy generation, which are the main areas of expertise of the MREC.
One of the key components of the Website is its library of publications, newsletters, conference presentations that constitute an invaluable resource of information. The library contains recent and historic publications but that are still current. You can also learn about the MREC history, Board members, and member organizations. The MREC is excited to share its new website and invites you to explore it at www.mrec.org
