| 69 nzdairy New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards » Marc and Megan Lalich Darfield couple Marc and Megan Lalich are on track to farm ownership shortly and are just awaiting the right opportunity. Karen Phelps Darfield couple Marc and Megan Lalich are on track to farm ownership shortly and are just awaiting the right opportunity. Being named the 2026 Canterbury/North Otago Share Farmers of the Year was a step in the right direction. The first-time entrants, who sharemilked 680 cows on a 173-hectare property owned by Marc’s parents, Peter and Susan Lalich during the season the awards were judged on, also walked away from the Dairy Industry Awards with four merit awards. “We have a ten-year plan with farm ownership the end goal,” says Marc. “We are on track to achieve that within five years or less but we have bigger plans for growth than that as well, including multiple farm ownership. We enjoy the journey.” Building equity through sharemilking, breeding better cows and growing the operation steadily are the levers the couple are pulling to get there. Now in their fourth season as 50:50 sharemilkers on the property, having previously spent four seasons contract milking, Marc, 31, and Megan, 28, have constructed a business the judges described as demonstrating exceptional business awareness and financial discipline. The herd is milked through a 40-aside herringbone shed fitted with automatic cup removers, auto teat spraying and auto drafting. Both were raised in farming. Just awaiting the right ownership opportunity Marc grew up on dairy farms in the Waikato and Megan was raised on a sheep and beef property at Fairlie. Marc originally completed a building apprenticeship before meeting Megan while she was studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) at Lincoln University, and the two went farming together from there. FERTILISER SPREADING | FARM MAPPING GPS TRACKING | VARIABLE RATE SPREADING LIVESTOCK CARTAGE | DAILY FREIGHT CONCRETE SUPPLIES | GRAIN CARTAGE SHINGLE SUPPLIES | FERTILISER SUPPLIES Leeston: 03 3248 070 | Dunsandel: 03 3254 039 reception@ellesmere.co.nz Challis Motorcycles Ltd. Motorcycle Parts & Services Automotive WOF Services and Repairs. 03 317 9521 www.challismotorcycles.co.nz accounts@challismotorcycles.co.nz Know for sure. accredited NOW WORKING IN YOUR AREA FOR ALL YOUR SPRAYING REQUIREMENTS 24 MTR BOOM WIDTH TABULA • LIQUID FERT SPRAYING Phone Andy 027 240 8354 hrspraying@gmail.com The preferred milking systems partner for Dairy Farmers Ph 0800 577 583 | www.morrisonagri.co.nz Proud to support Marc and Megan Lalich Milking Machines Rotary Platforms Engineering Pumping & Plumbing Chemical The financial discipline that impressed the judges is matched by an equally strong focus on animal welfare. “Our motto is: if we look after the cows, the cows will look after us,” says Marc. That philosophy showed in an 11 per cent empty rate last season and a commitment to low- intervention mating. Pregnancy testing is carried out through milk samples at herd testing, avoiding the need to run cows through the shed a third time in a day, better, Marc says, for both animals and people. Last season feed imported per cow was 1,096 kilograms and they achieved production of 542kgsMS. This season ending May 2026 those figures were 1300 kilograms and 580kgsMS through better pasture management and grass quality. The milking platform is increasing slightly this season by 20ha as they will use Halter on the herd to make use of a part of the farm, across the road from the milking shed, that was before impractical to include in the milking platform. “We would have previously needed an extra staff member to make use of that land so with Halter it now makes economic sense,” says Marc. Three full-time staff work alongside the Laliches, and Marc is clear that the team approach is central to how the farm operates. “We have really good staff who are an important part of decisions and planning,” he says. “We run things as a team.” The operation holds Synlait Lead with Pride certification, meeting rigorous standards across environment, animal health and welfare, milk quality and social responsibility. The couple’s four merit awards, covering farm hygiene and innovation, animal wellbeing, environmental sustainability and business performance, reflect an operation performing strongly in every area. Marc says the couple’s passion for dairy and their cows drives them every day. “We wouldn’t want to raise our children in any other environment,” he says. The couple have a 17-month-old son, Jed, with another baby due in November. BRAY ST ENGINEERING COMMITTED TO YOUR FARM’S SUCCESS SILAGE WAGON MAINTENANCE HOSE & HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING & FABRICATION RURAL & AGRICULTURAL PH: 03 318 8600 | E: info@braystreet.co.nz GET IN TOUCH
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