Farmers in their droves are hard at work this lunchtime cutting emergency fodder supplies at Shannon Airport.
The airfield at the Midwest facility has been offered up as the agriculture sector faces the most serious fodder crisis in five years.
They’ll continue to cut throughout the afternoon and deliveries have already begun.
Around a dozen tractors, balers and hay turners lined up at Shannon Airport’s airfield this morning to cut the 400 acre site for emergency fodder.
It’s a repeat of the situation five years ago but one no farmer wanted to be in.
However, as the fodder crisis nears an end , it’s providing a welcome boost for those struggling.
Walter Moroney from O’Callaghan’s Mills is one of the farmers cutting silage here today and was also here five years ago.
The first of the fodder has already been delivered to farms and as more bales are cut, it’ll continue to be hauled away.
Clare farmers will be the first priority with any extra fodder remaining going to those elsewhere.
IFA President Joe Healy visited Shannon today to see it in action – he says.
Meanwhile, Shannon’s Airport Operations Director Niall Maloney says the airfield will be available to the farmers for as long as is needed.
