The Hanson Family has been farming in Western Nebraska for four generations now. We have special challenges in farming here: the arid conditions mean that mostly dry-land crops are raised. We also irrigate about 40 percent of the 1600 acres we farm. It's what keeps us going in the dry years when annual rainfall can fall below 6 inches.

Over the years, we have been farming in a pretty conventional fashion: lots of chemicals, just a few crop types, and a fair amount of cultivation. Recently, we have begun to realize that we could farm in a more environmentally-friendly manner, increase the diversity of our crops and use less chemicals. We've begun raising cattle on our land, grazing them on a mix of grasses, turnips and legumes. It is a long road we have to walk, but we are taking the first steps.

We are working with the Institute for Environmental Research and Education (IERE). to develop our environmental management plan. The plan will move us towards sustainable agriculture, through annual planning based on life cycle assessment.

The main thing is that we are using the international standards on environmental management systems (ISO 14000 ) to develop our farm plan. We are working towards improving our performance, and part of that work is shown in this report.

The first step is to have a policy for environmental improvement, one that states what our intentions are and how we plan to get there.

Triangle H Farm is committed to sustainable agriculture. We move towards this goal through a comprehensive environmental farm plan, which evaluates environmental impacts annually using life cycle assessment. Based on the life cycle assessment, Triangle H will take action to continually improve the environment both on and off-farm. As a baseline, Triangle H complies with all applicable environmental regulations, and practices pollution prevention, especially with respect to pest management. Triangle H works hard to achieve a level of stewardship of the land that conserves resources and protects biodiversity values.

Jim Hanson
Farmer/Owner

We haven't yet completed our life cycle assessments for our products (which are beans, grains and beef), so we are working on improving the environment on the farm using what we know about the environmental aspects of our farming. The list below shows what those aspects are, what impacts they may cause, and how they are linked to farming.

Environmental Regulations

Since we do use pesticides, we have to follow the EPA regulations about their use. Most times, we hire the spraying done, but Jim Hanson is also certified for the application of pesticides. To the best of our knowledge, we are in full compliance with the requirements of FIFRA The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.)

Action Plan for 2000

In 1999, we began using intensive crop grazing as a method to decrease our environmental impacts. What this means is that we bought cattle, and rather than harvesting corn and sending it to a grain elevator, we allowed the cattle to graze in the cornfield. We also planted rye and turnips as a source of winter grazing for the cattle. The environmental outcome of this method of farming is that we decreased the need for fertilizer and pesticides, as well as diesel for running the tractors.

In 2000, we are expanding our grazing program. We have more cattle, and a new crop of calves. We'll be grazing more land and start planning the return to native pasture.

In addition, we will be fencing the freshwater lagoon on the property. Although it is only about 6 or 7 acres, it provides habitat for migrating waterbirds. The farm is in the central flyway and we get many bird visitors in the Spring and Fall. Fencing will be important now that we have cattle on the property.

Finally, by year end will have collected all the information we need to do a life cycle assessment.

Contact information

Tom Hanson
402-489-0988
thomas.hanson@mciworld.com