21-12-09 - Online SFP helps farmers get ahead.

Some farmers are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of their Single Farm Payment (SFP) cheque, but getting your form completed and delivered online to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) can help increase your chances of being at the head of the queue next time around.

“There are several advantages to the online submission of Single Payment Scheme (SPS) and other entitlement forms,” advises Charles Raine of North East based chartered surveyors, Youngs. Having been involved with online submissions to the RPA since the start, having taken part in the pilot scheme in 2008 – 2009, Charles is well placed to advise on the pros, cons and new developments.

“I personally complete well over 100 SPS applications each year this way,” he comments. “It’s much safer for our clients, offering more checks and less chance of error. After submission we instantly receive an official receipt showing that the form has arrived safely, which is hugely reassuring. As of next year the RPA will be introducing additional services. These include a tracking system so we will be able to check exactly what stage clients entitlements and claims applications have reached. Also we will be able to update client details directly onto the system.”

“Having successfully completed the process once, a farmer or landowner can quickly build a useful historic series of records,” he says. “This makes it much easier to spot any omissions or duplications and rectify the situation before sending the form away, as well as providing a useful and easily accessible database. The online system offers a number of built in validation checks as you go, hence by the time the form is sent off, it has already been monitored for all but the most hidden of errors.”

“In our experience, farmers using this method of delivery for their SP5 form, tend to receive their statement back much quicker, which gives them more time for final checks before the deadline. I’m not sure the RPA would admit to it, but being ahead of the game also seems to help to put you at the front of the queue for payment, probably because these are the forms that have been returned the soonest and in the clearest digitalised form. ”

“The amount of red tape involved for framers trying to claim subsidy, grant and other entitlements continues to grow as the number of schemes proliferates. Many will currently be considering applying for the new Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (UELS) scheme. The computer software behind these new schemes is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and whilst that might sound daunting, in practice it also offers some extremely useful tools to users. Maps produced by the Rural Land Registry will soon incorporate tools that allow changes to be made and delivered online, saving a lot of time and effort for those prepared to get their information registered and delivered in this way.”

“As with all computer systems it takes time to get to know them. We already have that knowledge at our finger tips and encourage clients to let us complete their submissions in this way because of the many advantages it offers and the time it saves them.”