Shannon Airport has confirmed it will bring it's grass cutting date forward to help farmers suffering from fodder shortages and cut grass on its 400ac site next week.

The airport’s operations team has met with farm representatives and bring forward it's grass cutting date.

It had been originally planned that no grass from the airport would be cut until later in the summer, but they are bringing it forward to help alleviate the current crisis.

In April of 2013 , farmers received 1,600 bales of silage from the airport in what was then the most severe fodder crisis in living memory.

Airport operations director Niall Maloney said : “We are a community airport and were delighted then to do what we could and the farmers were hugely appreciative. It was a critical intervention for many local farmers and so well received that other airports followed our lead and we hope they will do so again this time also,” he said.

” A lot could happen in a week if the weather improves and we get more growth but, as of now, many farmers are experiencing major problems."

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