The Rural Payments Agency announced last week that it met its end of December SPS target on the first banking day of the year's payment window (3rd December), paying out over £1.38 billion to more than 95,000 farmers. The figure accounts for 91.4 percent of farmers eligible for SPS payments and 84.6 percent of the estimated fund value (£1.6 billion).

RPA Chief Executive, Mark Grimshaw, commented on Thursday, "RPA has delivered its best ever performance this year, reaching its end of December targets by the end of the first banking day of the payment window. This shows just how far the Agency has come over the past few years and further demonstrates our commitment to delivering a first class service to farmers.

"The weather and economic conditions have made this a tough year for farmers and we continue to work hard to ensure the remaining payments are made promptly and accurately."

Farming Minister David Heath welcomed the announcement. He said, "This is excellent news for farmers and excellent news for the rural economy." The minister informed the Commons of the RPA's success at the end of last week.

The Agency is still working to a Ministerial commitment, set out in its Business Plan for 2012–13. The RPA was subject to unfavourable reports several years ago, since which time it has been under close scrutiny.

The agency was expected to pay 84 percent of payments by value and 91percent of customers by 31st December 2012. Having easily achieved this target, the RPA said it is well on track to achieving its next target of 97 percent of both payments and of customers by the end of March 2013.

The agency will now begin contacting farmers who are unlikely to receive their payments during December to inform them of additional work which must be done to validate their claims and secure payment.