SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) -- Six California central coast farms have been fined for failing to comply with new agricultural runoff rules.

The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board fined the farms nearly $36,000 for failure to submit monitoring fees or file monitoring reports.

Farmers have the choice of participating in a cooperative monitoring program for a fee or doing the monitoring themselves.

Monitoring is a key component in new rules designed to reduce polluted farm runoff.

The San Luis Obispo County Tribune (bit.ly/NThKZS) says the farms cited are Garcia Farms in Salinas, B&E Vineyard in Paso Robles, Amesti Road Ranch in Freedom, Mine Brothers in Watsonville, Vidal Medina in Watsonville and Gomes Orchards of Hollister.

An Oct. 12 hearing is scheduled.

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Information from: The Tribune, http://www.sanluisobispo.com

Copyright 2012 The AP.