Wiltshire farmers will be able to learn how to bring their businesses into the digital age with advice from the Rural Payments Agency at Bath and West Agricultural Machinery and Equipment Show on February 12.

The agency will be promoting its increasingly popular service Single Payment Scheme (SPS) Online at the show, helping farmers, land owners and agents apply for vital European agricultural support payments.

The service is an easy, digital way of applying for the payments.

It removes the need to complete paper forms, increases security, minimises the chance of errors, and gives an instant receipt and follow-up email confirming the claim for peace of mind.

The agency will have a manned stall at the show, where a team of expert representatives will be on hand to talk farmers through using the service and answer any questions they may have.

Ed Schofield, Rural Payments Agency information and technology director, said the show was an important opportunity for claimants to see how easy SPS Online is to use.

“Last year 14,000 claimants made the switch to move their businesses forward into the digital age, and we urge those farmers who haven’t yet sampled SPS Online’s benefits to give the service a go this year, before any CAP Reform changes come into effect in 2015," he said.

“The show is a great chance to demonstrate SPS Online to farmers, landowners and agents who haven’t had a chance to see what 55,000 others are already using.

“Last year more farmers and agents used SPS Online than applied on paper, reaping the benefits of added security, built-in checks and an instant receipt and confirmation email of their application.”

Due to the annual refresh of the SPS Online service taking less time this year, farmers, landowners and agents will be able to apply for SPS payments online from 20 February – a week ahead of 2013.