Managing Stored Grain Insects in Fall and Winter
Hazard Control and Human Nature
Web Survey Collects Farm Opinions on Biosecurity
2003 Farmland Tile Drainage Design Workshops & Application Forums
Engine Oil Analysis Determines Engine Health
The Effect of Solids Content in Swine Manure on Aeration Efficiency
Change in MWPS Ordering Procedures for Minnesota Residents
Midwest Rural Energy Council
Mark Raabe, MREC Coordinator
Doug Reinemann, Wisconsin Extension Engineer
Vance Morey, Minnesota Extension
Engineer
The Midwest Rural Energy Council (MREC)—formerly the Wisconsin
Farm Electric Council—is a non-profit organization based in Wisconsin
and Minnesota. The council was founded in 1954 as a cooperative program
between the investor-owned utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and
the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Engineering Department. In
December 1997, the board approved the merger with utilities in Minnesota
and the University of Minnesota. The merger became effective March 26,
1999.
The mission of the MREC is to initiate, develop, support, and coordinate
education, research and communication programs on significant and emerging
rural energy issues for the consumer, energy suppliers, and allied industries
through cooperative efforts of its members.
The University of Minnesota Department of Biosystems and Agricultural
Engineering and University of Wisconsin Department of Biological Systems
Engineering have ex-officio representatives on the MREC Board of Directors
and Executive Committee. Current representatives are Vance Morey and
Doug Reinemann respectively.
The MREC maintains a web site—www.mrec.org—with
information on the organization, its membership, publications, conferences
(including archives of previous conferences), and links to other web
sites. There are also featured pages on the topics of stray voltage,
anaerobic digestion, cooling and ventilation, and outreach programs.
Browse through its Calendar of Events to keep informed of events by
the MREC and other organizations in the field of rural energy.
Publications are available for viewing on-line or can be ordered. A
sampling of some of the titles, topics and issues include:
- Equipotential Planes for Stray Voltage Reduction: Installation Guidelines
- Planning Electrical Systems for Dairy Expansion
- Farming Safely and Efficiently with Electricity
- Stray Voltage Detection: A Self-Help Guide
- Power Quality and Computers on the Farm
- Installation and Operation of Fencers, Cow Trainers, and Crowd Gates
- Demand-side Management/Energy Conservation Potential for Wisconsin Dairy Farms
- US Dairy Forage Research Center Milking System Improvements
- Bibliography of Educational Publications on Standby Generation
The MREC 2003 Conference will be March 6 and 7, 2003, at the Holiday Inn East in St. Paul, Minn. There will also be a pre-conference seminar on March 5th on the topic of “Advanced Stray Voltage Measurement Techniques.” For more information on the conference and pre-conference seminar, see Resources.