Although I can see the idea behind using such a method to get the tractor back home limpin along at a slow and safe pace off road it really dudn look like that's what this cat's up to. Nor does it appear he's hip to your "block of wood" idea either.

What "appears" to be shown here is a dumbass and his ol lady takin their life in their hands herdin a broken tractor down the road along with the usual car traffic and smilin big for someones camera seemingly oblivious to the impending peril they are both in should the other axle bearing also fail.

As a lifelong mechanic I can assure you this is a totally foolhardy way of proceeding since the wheel bearing on the one remaining wheel was never intended to safely support much less steer this machine.

As can be seen in the pic the remaining front wheel assy is obviously stressed and is most likely imparting a good deal of the load to the one side of the bearing surface instead of evenly across the whole bearing surface (inner and outer). This generates excess stress and heat in such a bearing, with the higher the speed of the bearings rotation only adding even MORE heat to the bearing and in so doing literally BEGS for a failure of the assy. Typically the bearing will become galded to the bearing race surface and simply lock up or an even worst case scenario, cause the axle itself to overheat, crystallize from the excess heat and simply snap off.

I have alot of respect for farmers and their required ingenuity in facing and mastering problems with brains over $$. However, the laws of mechanics and physics are pretty unforgiving when ignored or if one simply chooses to believe they won't affect "their equipment".