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There’s never a good time for a tractor to break down, but this was exceptional timing. 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.

We had just delivered the trailer of seed to the field, and were on the road returning to the farm, to collect the rolls that press the seed into the soil. 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. As we waited by the roadside, several windows full of waving schoolkids didn’t help our embarrassment.

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. But the kids had had an exceptional experience on a real working farm, and the bird food was in and rolled. The bank balance was much lighter than at the start of the day, but this machinery is vital to the working of the farm. Tractors can cost the price of a house, so we work them hard, and breakdowns will occur. This one is now fully functioning again, and back earning its keep.

• Under the Changing Skies: The Best of the Guardian’s Country Diary, 2018-2024, is available now at guardianbookshop.com