Country diary: A terrible time for a tractor breakdown | Colin Chappell

"Late April was very dry as predicted, and with a change in weather prospects, the birdfood seed needed to go in. The purpose of this crop is to fill the birds' winter hunger gap, and it has to be sown in a narrow window: after the early May frosts, but before the soil dries out too much."

"As we passed through Brigg, the lights appeared on the dashboard and steam started to appear from the bonnet. This was our smallest and newest tractor. Hurriedly, we pulled into a driveway, water pouring from under the engine. Half on and half off the road, we started to collect traffic behind us."

"A quick look justified a call to the tractor dealers it was a tricky job and the clock was ticking. Unfortunately, part of the traffic jam was a school bus containing about 30 children, now late for their day trip to our farm. These inductions are something we regularly do with the Country Trust charity, to educate younger people about where their food comes from."

"By the time we got back, the children had toured the crops and were munching their way through their pack-ups, unaware that, instead of being photographed with the little tractor as planned, we would all have to make do with the forklift. We finished the day around dusk (so late the barn owl was out), exhausted after fitting the rest of the day's work into fewer hours."

Late April brought dry conditions, making it urgent to sow birdfood seed within a narrow period after early May frosts and before the soil dried too much. Seed delivery to the field was followed by returning to collect rolls that press the seed into the soil. While passing through Brigg, dashboard lights appeared and steam rose from the bonnet, with water pouring from under the engine. The smallest, newest tractor broke down, forcing an urgent roadside stop and a call to tractor dealers. Traffic built up, including a school bus with about 30 children late for a farm day trip. The children toured crops and ate pack-ups, while the planned tractor photo was replaced by a forklift. Work finished at dusk, the bird food was sown and rolled, and the day’s costs reduced the bank balance despite the machinery’s necessity.

Read at www.theguardian.com