RPA hits single farm payment target

More than 90,000 English farmers received their single farm payment by the end of December 2010, according to the Rural Payments Agency.

The latest figures published this week showed 85.5% of eligible claimants had been paid, ahead of the agency’s target.

RPA interim chief executive Richard Judge said: “Achieving our 85% target is an important milestone. We remain firmly focused on progressing the outstanding claims, accurately and as quickly as possible.”

In Wales, 86% of farmers received payments on 1 December, the first day of the payment window. A Welsh Assembly Government official said 90% of farmers had now been paid a total of £228m.

The payment window for the 2010 single payment scheme closes on 30 June 2011.