Every year, Teagasc figures highlight the profitability challenges facing suckler and sheep farms and the dependency of both sectors on EU supports. As such, the contribution these sectors make to the rural economy is often not fully recognised either within Brussels or national Government.In the Irish Farmers Journal, we have always tried to demonstrate the important role both sectors play in generating economic activity in towns and villages throughout rural Ireland and, as such, the dividend delivered from any investment made in the sectors at EU or national level.