Farmers and crofters across Scotland are being invited to register for a new online system for rural funding called Rural Payments and Services.
The new system, which has replaced Rural Payments Online, launched this week and will deliver nearly £4 billion of support to Scotland’s farming, food and rural sectors over the next five years alone.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead said:
“The new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which was implemented on January 1, is radically different to the previous policy so we needed a new online system.
“Rural Payments and Services has been specifically designed to make submitting an application or claim much clearer, simpler and smarter, and I am pleased to say the system is now live and farmers and crofters are invited to register.
“My officials are writing to farmers and crofters to let them know that they are now able to register to use the system, with more information about how to go about doing that.
“By having application and claim forms, guidance and up-to-date map and boundary information all in one place, the streamlined and secure Rural Payments and Services should save our hard-working farmers and crofters time, hassle and paperwork.
“I would encourage as many people as possible to use this new system, but recognise that it may not be suitable for everyone. That is why help and advice is available from local area offices.”
