It seems a number of people are confused about grounding problems. It's a single wire circuit right? That means it's self grounding, so why search for another one? If you remove the wire (removing 12v source) the engine stops. How is that a grounding problem?
What you have is a problem in the power circuit to the pump. Could be any number of things, a shorted diode, stuck relay, who knows? Could be fun to trace without the proper wiring diagram for that particular tractor. There is no "one size fits all" diagram because of all the model variations. Has anyone been working on the wiring or electrical system lately?
One more thought. You might remove the four screws and lift the instrument cluster out. Look for signs of a rodent domicile,