What a useful crop inspection looks for

1. Crop & field history

Record crop variety, planting date, previous crop, irrigation, fertilizer applications, pesticide history and recent weather.

2. Visual scouting

Inspect representative plants rather than only the most damaged area. Compare healthy and affected plants.

3. Pattern recognition

Look at whether symptoms are scattered, in patches, along field edges, near waterlogged areas or uniformly distributed.

4. Pest and disease clues

Check leaf undersides, stems, roots, growing points and reproductive structures. Photograph close-up symptoms and the whole plant.

5. Severity & follow-up

Record approximate affected area, severity and crop stage. Revisit after intervention when appropriate.