MORE than 82 per cent of England's farm and agricultural agents and advisors have registered on the new rural payments service as a first step to help their clients claim the new Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2015.

And the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has now asked the NFU to invite 3,000 of its members a day to register.

Addressing Tuesday's NFU Council meeting, Mark Grimshaw, RPA chief executive said: "We would urge anyone who wants to make a claim to get registered as soon as they are invited and we will take them through the journey with plenty of time to make changes.

"The new rules mean we have to gather lots of new information so the first year might take a bit of time for some, but, once all the information is in, subsequent years will be a lot quicker."

He also confirmed a national network of 50 support centres will give one to one help with making a claim. These will be by appointment only so anyone who thinks they may need help should call the rural payments helpline on 03000 200 301 to discuss what is on offer.

Before accessing the new online service for the first time, customers will have to prove they are who they say they are either online at GOV.UK Verify or by the RPA telephone identity check on the rural payments helpline whose open hours will be extended and will also include Saturdays and Sundays.

Mr Grimshaw said: "Our plan is to continue to release the system, gradually making more elements of the service available week by week. Since mid-December those registered, or their agent, have been able to register personal and business details and start checking the data we hold on their maps and land. Farmers and landowners have also been able to appoint an agent or someone else to act on their behalf.

"Next month is when the system will start to display things we think you need to check such as land parcels, and you’ll be able to react and amend them. This includes adding information on land cover and usage.

"From March you can confirm entitlements and eligibility, and can complete and submit your 2015 claims up until May 15. We will tell customers what they need to do and when they need to log back in."