A record number of farmers, croThers and land managers have submitted their Single Application Form online. Some 17,398 (88 per cent) of submissions received by the application deadline for support under the Common Agricultural Policy’s (CAP) Pillar 1 and 2 schemes were submitted online – representing a 10 per cent increase on the previous year. Welcoming the increase, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: ‘I am delighted that more farmers, croThers and land managers than ever before have chosen to submit their Single Application Form online.
‘This move is to be encouraged, which is why I am also pleased that 43 per cent of customers who submitted a paper application last year have made the switch online this year.
‘The record number who chose to apply online have benefited from having their application automatically checked for errors – reducing the risk of financial penalties and enabling their application to be validated straight away.’