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The Sacramento Bee

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Tractor Supply Co. on probation in California after pesticide dealing violations

California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation is placing Tractor Supply Co. on a five-year probation after repeated violations of its pesticide dealing and sales policies for years. Of the Tennessee-based company’s 99 California locations, the state said 65 were cited by county agricultural commissioners for pesticide compliance issues between Jan. 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025. Tractor Supply Co. violated state pesticide enforcement regulations such as selling restricted material pesticide products without requesting a permit, license or certification information from buyers and selling pesticide products without a dealer license. Restricted pesticides are products that are hazardous to public health, farmworkers, the environment and wildlife. The company also completed 123 sales of unregistered products, a Department of Pesticide Regulation review of sales from April 2022 to April 2026 found. “Californians deserve a marketplace where every seller plays by the rules,” department director Karen Morrison said in a Friday news release. “When companies cut corners, it puts our communities at risk and undermines businesses that follow the law.” The agricultural commissioner citations were mostly resolved, the state said, with Tractor Supply Co’s $5.1 million settlement agreement with five California counties in September. The settlement followed a complaint filed on behalf of the five

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