SFP online payment applications up by a third

The number of farmers submitting single farm payment applications online has increased by more than a third.


Of the 105,000 applications made by the 9 June deadline 42,617 were online, according to the Rural Payments Agency. 


That marks a 36% increase, in the number of electronic applications made by farmers using either the RPA’s SPS online system or other software packages, from 31,376 in 2011.


RPA customer director Justin Chamberlain, said:


“It’s clear to us that farmers appreciate the benefits of applying for Single Payment Scheme funding online.


“[The RPA system] highlights common errors so they can be corrected before the application is submitted,” Mr Chamberlain said.


“Farmers and agents get an instant receipt so they know it has arrived at RPA and the system saves information for the following year. Our customers tell us it is easy and quick to use.


“Farmers who haven’t registered to use RPA online services can still register so they can track the progress of their claim online, even if they applied on paper,” he said


“Once registered, they can also view their recent claim and entitlements statements online,” Mr Chamberlain added.


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