10/07/12 - Cattle keepers choose electronic reporting in record numbers
The trend towards choosing the Rural Payments Agency’s electronic cattle tracing services over traditional paper reporting is gathering momentum with a record month in June 2012.
The percentage of cattle births, deaths and movements that were reported electronically - using the Rural Payments Agency’s online service or automatic phone line, farm software packages or the email service – increased to more than 88% in June. This represents a leap of 13% on the same period last year.
More than 85% of births, nearly 93% of movements and nearly 74% of deaths were reported electronically in June. The movements and deaths figures represent the highest ever use of electronic services.
Farmers tell RPA they find the electronic services quicker and easier to use than sending in the forms by post. The online and phone services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. RPA is driving the use of electronic communications and services, in line with the Government’s ‘digital by default’ approach.
Notes to editors
The Rural Payments Agency’s work helps the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to encourage a thriving farming and food sector and strong rural communities. RPA makes Common Agricultural Policy support payments, traces livestock and carries out inspections. We manage more than 40 schemes, paying farmers and traders more than £2 billion each year. To administer such a wide range of schemes and meet EU requirements we manage information on more than two million land parcels.
Of RPA’s electronic cattle tracing services, CTS Online re-launched October 2009 and CTS Self Service phone line launched in June 2010. Electronic deaths reporting launched in March 2010.
Media only contact: Timma Marett, RPA Press Office, 01189 687959, timma.marett@rpa.gsi.gov.uk or Lynne Nasti on 01189 687680, lynne.nasti@rpa.gsi.gov.uk
Page published: 10 July 2012