Agriculture's new resource
by Katie Allen

Dan Engemann is farmers’ direct link for livestock regulations.

Perhaps it’s Dan Engemann’s knowledge and passion for agriculture that makes him most fitting for his new role at the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Engemann has switched from his post as assistant to the director to a new position as Agriculture Resources Coordinator. Engemann’s new role allows his to interact more directly with Missouri livestock producers and aid them through the process of starting up or expanding their livestock operations.

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt announced the creation of the Agriculture Resources Coordinator position in early December 2007 at the Missouri Farm Bureau annual meeting. The governor created the position to help livestock farmers understand the permitting process for their operations. Just days after his announcement, Gov. Blunt named Engemann to the new position.

While Engemann is not a new face to Missouri agriculture—his roots in farming began on his family’s beef cattle and row crop operation near Hermann—for more than two months, he has been traveling the state to visit livestock operations of all types and sizes and busily adjusting to his new role.

“I want to meet with various companies and meet with as many people as I can to be a good resource for them,” said Engemann, who, while this story was being written, held his office on the road visiting with multiple livestock producers on a daily basis.

Help for navigating regulations Agriculture Resources Coordinator Dan Engemann encourages any producers concerned with county regulations to contact county commissioners or give him a call. Producers interested in contacting Engemann with questions about their operations can call the Missouri Department of Agriculture at (573) 751-4211 or e-mail him at Dan.Engemann@mda.mo.gov.

Two worlds
Before the governor created Engemann’s position, the MDA had no involvement in the permitting process for livestock operations. In his new role, Engemann is bridging the MDA with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which issues the permits. He is serving as the initial contact for livestock producers, giving them the tools they need to understand the permitting process and making sure they have access to the best facilities and technologies available.

Engemann said he is under direct supervision of MDA Director Katie Smith, but he also works closely with DNR Director Doyle Childers. Balancing work between the MDA and DNR allows him to take livestock producers through the challenging, and sometimes daunting process of obtaining permits to expand their operations.

“I want to be a benefit to the producer, not just another person they have to call,” Engemann said. “Whether they want to expand or start new, I want to help walk them through what’s required.”

Engemann has already been in contact with several companies and livestock producers across the state who want to expand. Engemann said he assesses the layout of the land, location of the farm, type of livestock raised and any sensitive features near the production facility, including areas for public use.

“I’m trying to see the issues at hand,” Engemann said. “I want people to know I exist and that I’m here to help.”

Room to grow
Constant travel in the past months has opened Engemann’s eyes to the variety of Missouri livestock production and allowed him to set goals for his position. Engemann said his main goal is to grow the livestock industry in Missouri. Missouri currently ranks a top 10 livestock producing state in beef cattle, turkeys, broilers, hogs and eggs. But Engemann said there is room to expand, despite an array of county regulations across the state.

Sixteen Missouri counties currently enforce health ordinances that restrict livestock expansion. Engemann said health ordinances and regulation of confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, at the federal level will pose the biggest challenges to his position and expanding Missouri’s livestock industry and keeping Missouri a competitive livestock-producing state.

Engemann said tough regulations really hurt family farms the most and often prohibit a son or daughter from returning to the farm.

“The next generation is really at stake,” he said.

In his position, Engemann is also working with research institutions and extension agents on odor reduction efforts. This is an extension of the Livestock Odor Task Force established by the MDA when Engemann joined the department in 2005. The task force helps reduce livestock odors through mechanical engineering, dietary manipulation and changes in management practices.

Engemann said he encourages any producer concerned with their county regulations to contact their county commissioners or give him a call.

“I have a big task in front of me, and I’m trying not to promise the world,” Engemann said. “But I have a real passion to get out and help other farmers.” 

Freelancer Katie Allen is a student at the University of Missouri.

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