In man-made formations (called 'hoaxes') these unusual things cannot be found. Furthermore, a hoax quite often looks very sloppy. If a hoax was made during a rainy night, you will find lots of mud traces on the flattened crop. However, if you ever find mud traces in a formation, it is very important that you are certain you're the first person to enter the formation. If people have been in the formation before you came in (other researchers, tourists or maybe the farmer who owns the field), then of course you cannot draw any conclusions from the mud traces...

If you are the first to enter a genuine oil seed rape formation, you will find bent stems instead of broken ones. The majority of the yellow flowers will still be on the plants, whereas in a hoax, they will be lying all over the ground.

genuine	hoax