Kidney beans become very susceptible to mechanical damage at moisture levels below 11.5% to 12%. It is important, therefore, to harvest early at higher moisture and to minimize mechanical impact during threshing and warehousing operations.

The authors thank the California Dry Bean Advisory Board; Bob Stewart, California Crop Improvement Association; Dan Traine and Ann Messenger, S & W Foods; Vern Gogna, John Chiappe, and Richard Bozzano, San Joaquin County Grower Cooperators; Bob Mulhardt, Stockton District Kidney Bean Association; Rudy Chavarria Cooperative Extension Field Technician; and Bill Isom, Cooperative Extension Agronomy Specialist.