Farmers can begin submitting their online applications for the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).

On Monday, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) announced that the full online application process is now open for farmers wanting to submit their claims. The online process was partially opened at the beginning of March, and RPA said thousands of farmers logged on to check their information, with 2,200 BPS entitlements being transferred in the first 48 hours.

Applicants can view and print their application and, if no changes are required, they can make their declarations and submit it online. Those who need to make changes can update their application, check it is correct and submit it online. Though RPA was forced into a U-turn on its ‘digital by default’ policy last year, the Agency has sought to emphasise the benefits of submitting claims online again this year.

RPA said that, as well as receiving immediate confirmation once an application has been submitted, farmers submitting online will benefit from checks made by the Rural Payments service, which will give applicants guidance on meeting greening rules, completing information about their land correctly and making the right declarations.

Commenting on Monday, RPA Chief Executive Mark Grimshaw said, “The Rural Payments service is working well and some 10,000 entitlements and over 31,000 hectares of land have been transferred so far. Anyone who wants to submit an application for the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme can now do so.

“Farmers and agents can log into the service to check details, make any required changes, complete declarations and submit an application.”

In a report critical of the handling of changes to the government’s farm payments programme published at the beginning of the month, the Public Accounts Committee noted that 2015’s shift to online applications was "inappropriate for farmers," pointing out that failure elsewhere to improve broadband coverage means "there is poor broadband coverage in many rural areas”.

Last week, the EFRA Committee which oversees the work of the environment department and its arms-length bodies, like RPA, called farming minister George Eustice in to give evidence on the progress made in paying out delayed 2015 payments. Eustice will go before the Committee on Wednesday (23 March).

By Thursday, almost 73,000 farmers had received their BPS, though there are still around 14,000 farmers waiting to be paid.

Guidance for applicants from the RPA is available on the gov.uk website here.