Hard Ground

Josh and Steph Borowski

Hard Ground is a podcast for farmers and rural operators willing to have the difficult conversations around succession, production, politics, all of it. Join us as we pursue honesty and find​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ the common ground we can all stand on.

Episodes

  1. 9 HRS AGO

    Master Class: The Budget Changes Every Farm Family Needs to Understand

    The proposed Australian budget tax changes have left many farmers, landholders, and rural families asking the same question: what does this mean for our farm, our trust, our capital gains tax, and our succession plan? In this discussion, accountant George Morrice from Prime Partners Accounting breaks down the biggest proposed changes affecting Australian farmers, including CGT changes, family trusts, negative gearing, farm succession, company structures, SMSFs, fuel tax credits, biosecurity cuts, and off-farm investments. If you own farmland, operate through a trust, lease agricultural land, hold investment property, or are planning to transfer the farm to the next generation, this conversation will help you understand the risks, questions, and planning points you need to consider.This is especially important for rural families trying to protect intergenerational wealth, manage tax exposure, understand proposed trust rules, and avoid rushed financial decisions before legislation is finalised. The key message: these changes are not yet law, but they could have major consequences if passed.You’ll learn how proposed capital gains tax changes could affect farms, investment properties, and pre-CGT assets. George explains why trusts may face new tax pressure, how negative gearing may change for residential property, and why some farmers may need to reconsider company structures, SMSFs, succession planning, and off-farm income strategies. The discussion also covers fuel excise changes, farm management deposits, leasing income, biodiversity payments, and why farmers should avoid knee-jerk restructuring until the rules are clearer.Chapters00:00 Intro and welcome02:40 Meet George Morris from Prime Partners Accounting03:20 Why the budget has farmers worried04:20 Proposed changes are not law yet04:54 Leasing farmland, trusts, and CGT concerns06:00 Small business CGT concessions explained08:30 How capital gains tax could change after budget night09:40 Why the budget may create tax loopholes10:00 Pre-CGT farm assets entering the tax system11:10 Selling investment property to improve the farm13:17 Negative gearing and off-farm assets15:08 Fuel, fertiliser, and budget wins for farmers16:15 Loss carry-back rules for company structures17:30 Fuel excise and fuel tax credit changes20:30 Biosecurity cuts and rural impact23:22 What the budget means for sole traders and partnerships24:00 Trust distributions and the proposed 30% tax issue25:31 Transferring property between generations26:30 Testamentary trusts explained28:23 Companies, succession, and farm ownership structures30:46 SMSFs and farming land structures33:07 Possible inheritance tax concerns35:24 Election timing and whether changes can be reversed37:51 Commercial property vs residential property38:03 New builds and negative gearing40:23 Primary production income and trust rules42:45 Moving land into a trust for succession44:00 CGT rules before 199946:23 Passing farms to grandchildren48:59 Gifting, super funds, and asset transfers51:25 Passive income, leasing, and trust tax questions54:00 Should farmers move from trusts to companies?56:00 Lobbying and rural advocacy57:11 Existing negatively geared properties59:00 Biodiversity payments and tax treatment01:01:28 Intergenerational transfers and CGT concessions01:03:26 Closing comments and follow-up#AustralianFarmers#CapitalGainsTax#FarmSuccession#FamilyTrusts#RuralBusiness

    1hr 3min
  2. The Critical Red Flag That Often Goes Unnoticed in Farming Families with Emma Wallace

    5 DAYS AGO

    The Critical Red Flag That Often Goes Unnoticed in Farming Families with Emma Wallace

    When farming gets tough - financially, personally or strategically - the Rural Financial Counselling Service Northern Region is there to help producers work through what comes next. From drought and debt to succession planning and big business decisions, we walk alongside farmers and fishers with practical, free and impartial support. Trusted and experienced in holding the conversations to help navigate change with more clarity and confidence.Most farm families face their toughest challenges in silence—until now. Emma Wallace, a seasoned financial counsellor and community advocate, uncovers the essential messaging farming populations need to hear: timely, honest conversations about money and succession are the key to long-term sustainability.In this eye-opening episode, Emma shares how communication breakdowns in farming families lead to crises—whether it’s intergenerational conflicts, financial distress, or isolation—and why starting the conversation early can transform tension into teamwork. She reveals the red flags of financial abuse and family discord, including the danger of overlooked mental health triggers and the impact of taboo topics like debt and asset transfer. Emma emphasizes that, amidst the unpredictability of industry and nature, proactive dialogue and transparency are your best tools for resilience. You’ll discover: how to recognize the subtle signs of crisis before they escalate, why early planning can prevent costly conflicts, and practical tips for fostering honest family conversations—even in the most difficult moments. Emma also breaks down the invaluable free services available to farmers—like the Rural Financial Counselling Service—and explains how institutions are working to destigmatize tough topics such as succession, mental health, elder abuse, and financial literacy.Why does all this matter? Because farm success isn’t just about land or machinery—it’s about people. Ignoring the warning signs and delaying conversations can threaten family stability, mental health, and the future of your farm. Conversely, embracing open communication and seeking support early sets the stage for growth, legacy, and sustainability. It’s a hard truth but an empowering one: the best time to start is now.Perfect for farmers, family members, and industry advocates eager to break down barriers and build stronger, more resilient farm families. If you're ready to turn conversations that feel uncomfortable into opportunities for connection and success, this episode is your blueprint for lasting change.Emma Wallace is the communications officer at the Rural Financial Counselling Service, Northern Region, and a former small business financial counsellor. With deep roots in Australian agriculture and firsthand experience navigating floods and land management, she’s dedicated to supporting rural communities with compassionate, independent guidance.Start now—because the future of farming depends on it.

    44 min

  3. 13 MAY

    The Silent Risk That Can Destroy a Family Farm with George Morice

    Farm succession planning is one of the hardest conversations a farming family can have — but avoiding it can cost far more than money. In this episode, accountant George Morris unpacks why family farms fall apart when succession, inheritance, ownership, debt, and family expectations are left unclear.--George grew up on a cattle farm near Coolah, NSW, and was appointed CFO of an Australian premium meat company at just 21. He went on to work in procurement and logistics for a global shipping company, based in Dubai with responsibilities extending into Africa, before transitioning into public practice with what was then the seventh-largest accounting firm in the world. Fourteen years ago, George moved to Sydney to build his own accounting firm, Prime Partners, from the ground up. Today, Prime Partners is recognized as one of the highest-quality advisory businesses in NSW and has since opened a second office in Orange, allowing George to divide his time between Sydney and his farm nearby.George is focused on helping business owners maximize their returns, plan for retirement, and ensure wealth transitions smoothly and thoughtfully across generations--If you are part of a family farm, married into a farming family, working in an agricultural business, or wondering how to protect the farm without losing the family, this conversation is for you. George explains why succession planning is not a one-time meeting, why fear often drives the older generation’s decisions, and why the next generation must approach the conversation with humility instead of entitlement. We talk about farm inheritance, family conflict, asset protection, fair versus equal succession, the role of accountants and succession planners, and how professional support can keep hard conversations from becoming lifelong damage.This episode matters because the cost of poor succession planning can be devastating: broken relationships, legal battles, lost farmland, damaged mental health, and the collapse of a family legacy that took generations to build.You’ll learn why farm succession should begin before the crisis point, how regular family meetings can reduce fear and confusion, what “fair versus equal” really means when one child stays on the farm, and why bringing in a professional can help every voice be heard before conflict takes over.You’ll also hear how business control, land ownership, debt, off-farm assets, wills, trusts, and family expectations all need to be handled separately instead of being treated as one big emotional issue.Chapters00:00 Intro01:26 Meet George Morris04:30 Why family business is so hard06:16 The three pillars: business, ownership, and family08:37 Why succession problems last for generations10:58 Fear, control, and the older generation13:07 What an accountant does in succession planning15:25 Transferring business control before land ownership17:46 Why succession planning is not one meeting20:10 The mental health cost of family farm conflict22:32 Fair vs equal in farm inheritance24:00 The real cost of going to court27:22 How daughters-in-law can raise succession concerns32:12 Why professionals change the room35:10 What successful farming families do differently37:04 Debt, off-farm assets, and inheritance options39:13 Ruling from the grave41:13 Why forcing family members into business together fails43:36 Advice for the younger generation46:00 Documenting wages, work, and expectations47:00 How accountants help farming families50:49 What accountants can and cannot solve53:13 The biggest F word: festering55:39 How to start the succession conversation

    1hr 7min

  4. 6 MAY

    Farm Succession Is Breaking Families… Here’s Why with Ben Law

    1. Ben’s podcast link https://thefinancialbloke.com.au/podcast/ 2. Link for roadmap workshop https://agricoach.com.au/takeaction-2/ — Ben works with ambitious multigenerational farming families across Australia to make sure they don’t lose the farm or each other, when succession comes around. Most families spend a lifetime building something incredible, only to watch it slowly unravel in the years before transition. Not because they didn’t work hard enough, but because nobody prepared the family for how to do it together. Ben works with both generations, the ones handing over and the ones stepping up, getting them aligned, running like a business, and making sure the next generation has actually earned the keys. By the time the lawyers and financial advisers arrive for the handover, the hard work is already done. — Farm succession can either protect a family’s future or tear the whole family apart. In this episode, Ben Law, also known as The Financial Bloke, explains why succession planning on family farms often goes wrong, why waiting until retirement is too late, and how rural families can start building clarity, trust, leadership, and alignment years before assets ever change hands.If you are part of a family farming business, working on the land, married into a farming family, or wondering how to pass down the family farm without destroying relationships, this conversation is for you. Ben shares practical insight on farm succession planning, fair versus equal inheritance, preparing the next generation, involving daughters and daughters-in-law, managing family meetings, and avoiding the resentment that can build when no one knows what the future looks like. This is a must-listen for Australian farming families, rural business owners, parents, sons, daughters, and anyone trying to protect both the farm and the family behind it.You’ll learn why succession should start long before transition, how clarity and alignment can reduce family conflict, why the next generation must build skill and capacity instead of waiting for control, and how families can begin hard conversations before resentment turns into disaster.Chapters00:00 Intro00:52 Meet Ben Law, The Financial Bloke03:10 Why Ben Started Helping Farming Families07:45 Why Money Does Not Fix Family Problems10:06 Clarity and Alignment in Farm Succession11:50 Why Succession Starts at Birth14:54 Daughters, Women, and Taking Over the Farm21:55 Get It, Want It, Capacity Explained26:41 Father-Daughter vs Father-Son Farm Dynamics29:05 Why Family Relationships Matter as Much as Wealth31:29 The Role of Daughters-in-Law in Succession36:16 Choosing the Right Spouse in Farming Families41:04 How Off-Farm Siblings Can Be Included45:49 Why Starting Early Makes Succession Easier50:34 When the Older Generation Won’t Let Go55:05 When Succession Conflict Turns Dangerous57:26 Victim Mentality vs Taking Responsibility01:02:08 How Many Times Should You Try Succession?01:06:32 Choosing Your Hard and Building a New Future01:11:09 Ben’s Advice for Younger and Older Generations01:13:36 The 4 Phases of Farm Succession

    1hr 15min

  5. SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Coming Soon

    We welcome you to Hard Ground, a podcast dedicated to people who live and work on the land. We discuss how farming extends beyond just stock and crops to encompass people, families, and the partnerships that are built on the land. We invite you to listen, laugh, and share in the emotional journey as we explore ways to build stronger families, better businesses, and find common ground together.

    26 sec

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Hard Ground is a podcast for farmers and rural operators willing to have the difficult conversations around succession, production, politics, all of it. Join us as we pursue honesty and find​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ the common ground we can all stand on.

Information

  • Creator
    Josh and Steph Borowski
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Josh and Steph Borowski
  • Show Website
    Hard Ground

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