NAME: Amber Hayter
TIME AT CDFA: About a year and a half
PROGRAM: Commercial Feed Regulatory Program
POSITION TITLE: Environmental Scientist
USUAL DAILY ACTIVITIES ON THE JOB? I am an environmental scientist for the Feed and Livestock Drugs Inspection Program. Most of my time is spent in the field conducting routine sampling and inspections at feed manufacturing facilities on behalf of the Commercial Feed Regulatory Program. There are state laws and regulations that the feed manufacturing industry must comply with, and my duty is to ensure these laws and regulations are being followed. I also visit retailers and distributors of livestock drugs to verify compliance with our Livestock Drug Program.
HOW DO YOU WORK FOR THE CALIFORNIA FOOD SUPPLY? I work for the California food supply by inspecting and regulating the feed that is manufactured and processed for livestock. Our program ensures that the feed manufacturing industry in California is supplying safe feed for animals, which, in turn, supplies safe meat, milk and eggs for human consumption.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB? There are many things I enjoy about this job, but most of all I love being out in the field. Almost every day is different. Being in the field allows me to see all aspects of the manufacturing process, from start to finish. My favorite days are spent sampling feed at dairies because I get to drive around all the country backroads, hopping from one dairy to the next.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? One thing I am most proud of is my job. I am very happy that I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and pursue a career in agriculture. I do not have an agricultural background, so this has all been very new to me. I have learned so much and my supervisors are always telling me to keep up the great work, which must mean I’m doing something right!
Click here to view this staff spotlight as it originally ran in the Commercial Feed Regulatory Program’s Spring 2023 Quarterly Feed Update.
The Commercial Feed Regulatory Program is part of the Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services Branch of CDFA’s Division of Inspection Services.