The NFU has asked for proof that the Government's new IT system, which should be administering farm payments from next year, is "robust".

NFU vice president Guy Smith said on Tuesday that many of the union's members  "Are clearly haunted by memories from ten years ago where it wasn't the farmer applicants that were found wanting but the systems put in place by DEFRA and the RPA."

Mr Smith said, "In the next six months or so, farmers and growers will be grappling with the new rules and a new registration process and online-only system of applying for payments… No-one should underestimate the challenges faced in switching to the new system."

"Only the mass rollout will truly test if what has been built is fit for purpose and time is running out… to get the tools in place for this to happen. Next May seems a long way off, but given the enormity of this challenge we really would like to see significant progress on registration before the end of the year."

The union has said its member are anxious to see the new Government Gateway registration process go live and have expressed frustrated that they are still waiting for this.

"The new CAP will mean changes for all applicants and everyone will need time to adapt to that system, particularly to understand what additional information is required when it comes to greening," Smith said.

Mr Smith said two key factors that would go some way to helping was to ensure that SPS 2014 claim validation was completed swiftly and the need for the RPA to be given the resources to ensure it can have sufficient numbers of trained staff in place to help with the transition.