FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Laurie Johns, Iowa Farm Bureau, (515) 225-5414, ljohns@ifbf.org
Regi Goodale, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, (515) 727-8949 rgoodale@iowarec.org
Ryan Stensland, Alliant Energy, (319) 786-4040, ryanstensland@alliantenergy.com
Chris Freland and Sue Ann Claudon, Iowa State Dairy Association, 515-954-5997 and 515-965-4626, cfreland@midwestdairy.com and Sueannc@iowadairy.org

COOPERATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN UTILITIES, FARM GROUPS BRINGS SOLUTIONS TO IOWA STRAY VOLTAGE ISSUES

Iowa Stray Voltage Guide Provides Education to Mitigate Stray Voltage Issues on Iowa Dairy Farms

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Aug. 4, 2014 –Low-level electrical current, commonly known to farmers as ‘stray voltage’, can impact Iowa’s dairy cows and other livestock, reducing milk production and affecting animal behavior. A joint effort to provide an educational resource to manage and mitigate stray voltage issues, is now available to Iowa farmers, electricians and utilities. The ‘Iowa Stray Voltage Guide’ (www.iowastrayvoltageguide.com) aims to improve communication and solve problems.

Sponsored by the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, Alliant Energy, the Iowa State Dairy Association and Iowa Farm Bureau, the information in the 28-page Stray Voltage Guide was developed over the past several months.  The collective group worked together to develop a consensus about the most effective way to provide education and to manage and mitigate stray voltage concerns, keeping in mind the best interests of farmers, livestock and electric utilities. The guide is a contemporary tool to help farmers who are concerned about whether their animals are experiencing stray voltage issues and provides standard procedures for testing for stray voltage and identifies common causes of stray voltage.

“We see stray voltage when electrical current is carried on neutral wires, and it often shows up at grounding points, such as livestock watering tanks, fencers or other metallic devices,” says Regi Goodale, director of regulatory affairs, Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.      

“We’re pleased with the collaborative development of this guide, which will help to address an existing issue for farmers, while also aiding utility workers and electricians, so that stray voltage can be mitigated in the future.”

“Animals that come into contact with stray voltage may experience tingling sensations or involuntary muscle contractions.  For dairy farmers, it can be subtle to observe, and you may only realize what the problem is when you see high somatic cell counts and poor reproduction,” says Iowa Farm Animal Care Coalition (IFAC) executive director, Denny Harding.

“Stray voltage can cause dairy cows stress and discomfort. Effects can include the loss of 20 percent or more of an animal’s milk production and longer intervals between calving,” says Harding.

     “We’re pleased that Iowa dairy industry partners have worked together in this proactive, cooperative way to help minimize stray voltage,” says Larry Shover, a dairy farmer from Delhi and Iowa State Dairy Association president.  “Keeping our cows healthy and comfortable is vital in our efforts to provide nutritious, healthful and good-tasting dairy products.”

Fixing the situation first involves diagnosing the problem, then coming up with a workable solution. To assist with this process, the Iowa Stray Voltage Guide includes a farm wiring checklist.

“Providing an environment where stray voltage does not impact our farmers’ ability to maintain healthy and productive livestock is key, says Tony Harvey, senior agriculture representative, Alliant Energy. “The guide provides farmers with practical information that can be used to find stray voltage sources and provides ways to fix potential issues before they become a problem. We are proud to be a part of this effort that benefits our farmers and their livestock.”

Farmers can work with their utility provider to identify sources of stray voltage and take steps to mitigate the causes of the problems and access resources to remedy the situation

“Farmers are interested in making sure all the animals on their farm are healthy and in a good environment; consumers expect nothing less.  Having this tool accessible to bring a standard process for identifying unacceptable levels of stray voltage is a win-win for everyone, especially for livestock,” says Harding.

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About Iowa Farm Bureau
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa.  More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity.  For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the Newsroom page on the IBF website at www.iowafarmbureau.com.

About the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives

The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives represents 34 distribution cooperatives in Iowa and six generation and transmission cooperatives providing electricity to approximately 650,000 Iowans in each of the state’s 99 counties. Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives are part of a national network of 1,000 electric cooperatives. These utilities, which serve 25 million Americans in 46 states, work together through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, a Washington, D.C.-based service organization formed in 1942. Information about Iowa’s rural electric cooperatives is available on the association’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via www.iowarec.org. Information about Touchstone Energy is available at www.touchstoneenergy.com.
 

About Alliant Energy
Alliant Energy Corporation’s Iowa and Minnesota utility subsidiary, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), utilizes the trade name of Alliant Energy. The Iowa and Minnesota utility is based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and provides electric service to 528,000 customers and natural gas service to 234,000 customers in over 700 communities. The employees of Alliant Energy focus on delivering the energy and exceptional service their customers and communities expect – safely, efficiently, and responsibly. Visit alliantenergy.com or call 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268) for more information. Alliant Energy Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT.

About ISDA
The Iowa State Dairy Association, founded in 1876, is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to providing value to dairy farm families, its members and the dairy industry and to improve the health, well-being and economy of Iowa.