Harvest is well under way, but the early part has been a fairly start-stop affair.

This is largely down to two reasons: the first being the variability of crops coming fit to harvest, and the second being “Cornish sunshine” – or rain, as it is more commonly known.

My winter barley crops have proved no different from what seems to be the trend this year, with yields down by varying degrees on the past two years.

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Bushel weights are also quite variable, with location being key: any thin or hungry ground has suffered.

The better barley crops have been on land where stubble turnips for sheep have been in the rotation, which proves the benefit of organic matter return.

The Maris Otter barley grown for malting showed the greatest variation within a variety.

All the fields were grown within a mile of each other on similar low-lying ground, but about a third was hit hard by barley yellows dwarf virus (BYDV), despite seed treatment and follow-up cypermethrin sprays.

The remainder seemed to have escaped relatively unscathed. This is, I believe, a result of the abnormally mild winter conditions we experienced.

The first oilseed rape to be cut looks to have yielded satisfactorily, judging by the combine meter, despite the seed size appearing slightly smaller.

At the time of writing, I have not had any over a weighbridge, but here’s hoping – at least the price seems to heading in the right direction.

I said last month that we were running behind with our bulb harvesting programme. Well, thanks to a superhuman effort by the team we have managed to catch up and finish everything in time.

It is also good to have a crop to report where the harvested yield is actually better than last year. This, as we all know, can be a double-edged sword, with increased quantities reaching the market.

However, sales are progressing steadily at this stage. The weakness in sterling, thanks to Brexit, is helping the export position, which is crucial for the success of this crop.

In general, price volatility looks like it is going to be a more significant factor than usual this year. Risk management – as well as using all the options available – is going to be key.

Jeremy Oatey manages 1,200ha of arable land near Plymouth in Cornwall and is 2013 Farmers Weekly Arable Farmer of the Year. Cropping includes wheat, barley, OSR, oats, beans, potatoes, onions, swedes and daffodils.