The practice of farming that built what we often call the backbone of the New Zealand economy was founded on generations of hard-earned wisdom.

These farmers didn’t have the luxury of apps or sensors—they farmed with an intuitive understanding of their animals, their climate, and their land.

There was no hiding behind technology.

A good farmer was a vet, an accountant, an agronomist, and a weather forecaster all in one.

In our famously erratic “four seasons in one day” climate, they needed a sixth sense.

New Zealand livestock aren’t raised in barns or on grain; they’re out in the elements, pasture-fed, in a system that still feels more authentic than most.

At the heart of that system has always been stockmanship: the ability to understand and work with animals in a calm, skilled, and empathetic way.

But farming is changing rapidly.

Today, you can check your herd’s health stats from a smartphone or even move stock with the press of a button from your living room.

Just like ChatGPT risks creating a generation that turns to automation over creative thinking, is there a risk that modern farming tech could erode the stockmanship passed down over generations? Can we replace intuition with an algorithm?

There’s no denying the benefits of agri-tech.

Wearable animal sensors, automated milking systems, GPS tracking, and drone surveillance have all become part of the farming toolbox.

New Zealand is leading the way in adopting these technologies. With global food demand expected to increase by 70% by 2050—and the world population forecast to hit 9.1 billion—technology will be essential.

In developing countries, food production may need to double.

Labour shortages are already an issue here at home.

So yes, agri-tech has a critical role to play.

But it must be part of a balanced approach.

Technology should support, not replace, good stockmanship.

Machines can collect data, but they can’t replace a farmer’s instincts.

An experienced stockperson knows when a ewe is about to lamb or senses pain in a cow just by the angle of her ears.

Farming is as much art as science.

Take cow wearables, for example.

They can monitor heat, rumination, and mastitis risk and because of this uptake has soared in the past five years.

But they still rely on farmers interpreting that data with judgment and care.

Like stockmanship, agri-tech can improve efficiency and profitability—but only when paired with human insight.

Research shows that poorly handled heifers are more fearful of humans, and stressed animals produce less milk, suffer more injuries, and are harder to manage.

Calm, consistent handling—hallmarks of good stockmanship—boosts both animal welfare and farm performance.

Technology is a tool. Stockmanship is a skill. We need both.

But in the rush to innovate, we must not forget the irreplaceable value of hands-on experience, empathy, and understanding—the very qualities that built New Zealand farming in the first place.

By Claire Inkson