Almost a third more farmers have applied for payments online this year in preparation for changes under the new Common Agriculture Policy (CAP).
Figures for the Single Payment System (SPS), which closed on 9 June, showed that 70,249 claimants applied for payments online this year, up 27 per cent from 55,381 in 2013.
As of next year all farmers will have to apply online for the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), which will replace the SPS, using a new system called CAP Information Service (CAPIS).
“We have worked hard to support business and personal customers to move online as part of our commitment to reducing costs and improving service by offering more and better digital options,” said Justin Chamberlain, customer services director for the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
“This is a fantastic result which leaves thousands more farm businesses better prepared for the changes coming in 2015, including the new online service.
“In support of government ambitions to encourage digital take-up, we will continue to work closely with customers and stakeholders to further improve our online services.”
Announcements about the new CAP, which comes into effect from 1 January 2015, will continue to be released in a series of updates throughout the rest of 2014 to ease the transition and provide support along the way.
Defra said farmers and land managers will see a CAP Reform Countdown symbol on webpages and other documents in coming months to flag up new updates.
Changes include payments dependent on greening meausures, the active farmer test, exemptions for hill farmers and young farmers as well as the new online service.Most of the funding under the new CAP will be paid under direct payment schemes to farmers, using the new BPS.
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