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Dry Bean

Dry Bean

Phaseolus vulgaris GRIN 27632

vegetableannual

Dry beans (kidney, black turtle, and other market classes) are warm-season annual legumes grown on well-drained soils for dry-edible markets. Suitable for Zones 3-11 with 90-115 day maturity; nitrogen-fixing and frost-sensitive.

24/30

Crop Snowflake Score

Gross Revenue
$3,750

/acre

Net Return
$2,000

/acre

Price Trend
declining
Establishment Cost
$245

/acre

Crop Insurance
Available
Years to Production
0

years

Overview

Growing Season

Plant
Late May - mid June (soil >60F) – Late May - mid June (soil >60F)
Harvest
Sept - early Oct (90-115 days) – Sept - early Oct (90-115 days)
Frost-free days
100+
GDD (base 50°F)
1,600

Yield

Typical yield
1,500 lbs/acre
Productive lifespan
1 years
Labor
8 hrs/acre
100%

Market Fit

3/6

Active Regional Buyers

2 active buyers on record purchasing this crop.

Price Trend Stable/Up

3-year price trend recorded as "declining".

Supply Below Demand

Only 1 of 6 documented channels rate viability "strong" — not enough to establish that regional demand would absorb additional supply.

Multiple Buyer Channels

4 of 6 documented market channels rate viable or better (wholesale, direct_to_consumer, farmers_market, retail). Multiple independent routes to market.

Value-Added Potential

2 viable direct-market channels (direct_to_consumer, farmers_market). Supports value-added and margin capture beyond wholesale.

Market Growth Projected

Mature vegetable market; growth over a 5-year horizon is expected to track population rather than outpace it.

Market Channels

wholesale · The dominant channel: most dry beans are sold under contract to elevators, dealers and processors/canners, with price premiums and discounts tied to USDA quality grades (moisture, splits, color, foreign matter).
direct_to_consumer · Heirloom and specialty dry beans sell well bagged direct to consumers; shelf-stability supports farm-stand and online sales, and differentiated varieties command well above commodity prices.
farmers_market · Dried, packaged beans are shelf-stable and travel well to market; works best with named heirloom varieties that distinguish the product from inexpensive retail beans.
retail · Local and specialty bean brands reach independent grocers, but generic dry beans compete with low-priced national packers; retail placement generally needs branding or an organic/heirloom story.
restaurant · Restaurants use dry beans but typically buy through broadline distributors; direct farm-to-restaurant sales are occasional and usually limited to distinctive heirloom varieties.
csa · Not a core CSA share item; works mainly as an occasional value-added add-on (e.g., a bag of dry beans) rather than a recurring weekly box component.

Climate Fit

6/6

Hardiness Zone Match

Crop tolerates zones 3-11; region spans 5-6. Overlaps.

GDD Sufficient

Crop needs 1600 GDD (base 50F); region accumulates 2500+. Sufficient.

Precipitation Compatible

Crop needs ~16 in; region receives ~38 in/yr. Compatible, irrigation available as supplement.

Frost-Free Season OK

Crop needs 100 frost-free days; region provides ~180. Sufficient.

Chill Hours Met

Not applicable — annual crop has no winter chill requirement.

Climate Trend Favorable

Crop spans 9 hardiness zones (3-11). Wide adaptive range buffers against warming trend.

Fit by region

The farm matcher, run on each region's cited climate normals. Soil and site are not included here; add your own on the match page.

Match your farm
Finger Lakeszone 5b/6a · 2,200 GDD · 145 frost-free days · 38.29" rain

No limiting condition found. 5 criteria evaluated; 60% cited.

Strong fit
100/100
Heat accumulation (GDD base 50F)Frost-free seasonRainfallHigh-severity risksKnown buyers
Lake Erie Concord Grape Beltzone 6a/6b/7a · 2,923 GDD · 185 frost-free days · 41.09" rain

No limiting condition found. 5 criteria evaluated; 60% cited.

Strong fit
100/100
Heat accumulation (GDD base 50F)Frost-free seasonRainfallHigh-severity risksKnown buyers
Chautauqua Uplands (Allegheny Plateau)zone 6a · 2,364 GDD · 158 frost-free days · 45.93" rain

No limiting condition found. 5 criteria evaluated; 60% cited.

Strong fit
100/100
Heat accumulation (GDD base 50F)Frost-free seasonRainfallHigh-severity risksKnown buyers

Climate envelope & site

What the farm matcher compares your conditions against.

Climate envelope

Hardiness zone
n/a
Frost-free season
100+ days
Heat (GDD base 50°F)
1,600+
Winter chill
n/a
Rainfall
19.7–169.3 in/yr

Below the minimum, irrigation is needed; above the maximum the crop fails.

Soil pH target
6.5–6.8

Extension lime target; within 1.0 of it is correctable.

Site & structure

Spring frost at bloom
n/a
Needs cold-air drainage
n/a
Shade tolerance
none — full sun
Mature height
not yet recorded
Rooting depth
not yet recorded
Wind exposure tolerance
not yet recorded
Workable slope
not yet recorded

Height, rooting depth and shade tolerance are the inputs an alley or guild layout needs.

Soil Compatibility

Soil Texture

loam (ideal)sandy_loam (ideal)silt_loam (ideal)clay_loam (suitable)loamy_sand (suitable)sandy_clay_loam (marginal)clay (marginal)sand (marginal)silty_clay (poor)silty_clay_loam (marginal)

Drainage

well_drained (ideal)moderately_well_drained (suitable)somewhat_excessively_drained (suitable)excessively_drained (marginal)somewhat_poorly_drained (marginal)poorly_drained (marginal)very_poorly_drained (poor)

Infrastructure Fit

5/6

Equipment Compatible

3 of 10 documented equipment items are crop-specific (30%) against a catalog median of 29%. Above-median share of purpose-built equipment, implying real capital outlay.

Storage Available

2 documented storage routes; at least one (Grain bin (on-farm)) is reachable with conventional on-farm or third-party facilities.

Irrigation Compatible

Requires ~16 in. Deliverable with conventional drip or overhead irrigation.

Field Layout Suitable

Suited to the small-to-mid-size fragmented parcels typical of the region.

Labor Availability

Labor requirement not recorded. Catalog 75th percentile is 250 hr/ac.

Processing Proximity

2 processor/cooperative buyers on record for this crop, 1 within NY/PA/OH.

Equipment Requirements

planting

Tillage Equipment (chisel plow / disk)Required

Conventional tillage prepares fine seedbed. No-till is possible but requires specialized planters and good residue management.

$12,000
Row Crop Planter (15-30 inch rows)Required

Standard planter (corn/soybean) suits most market classes. Narrow-row systems (15-22") increase yield in some types but complicate harvest.

$28,000

irrigation

Center Pivot or Lateral Move IrrigationOptional

Cost per acre installed. Irrigation common for high-value classes (white kidney, cranberry); rainfed acceptable for navy and pinto in adequate-rainfall regions.

$1,200

spraying

Boom Sprayer (60-90 ft)Required

Self-propelled or pull-type. Used for pre-emerge herbicide, foliar fungicide (white mold management), and pre-harvest desiccant.

$25,000

cultivation

Row CultivatorOptional

Mechanical weed control supplemental to herbicides. More important in organic systems and where herbicide-resistant weeds are present.

$8,000

harvesting

Bean Cutter / Undercutter BladeRequired Specialized

Severs taproots and lifts plants into windrows for field-drying. Primary specialized investment that distinguishes dry-bean from soybean equipment.

$14,000
Combine with Bean Pickup / Special HeaderRequired Specialized

Cost is for the pickup attachment / specialized header (combine itself shared with grain crops). Slow ground speed and gentle threshing reduce splits.

$18,000

post_harvest

Bean Cleaner / Gravity TableRequired Specialized

Dry beans are sold by visual standards. Stones, splits, and discolored seeds must be removed to meet contract grades. Custom cleaning services exist as alternative.

$11,000
Aerated Storage BinsRequired

Storage at 13-15% moisture with aeration prevents quality loss. Cost is per typical 5,000 bushel bin. Shared with other small-grain storage.

$6,000

general

Row-Crop Tractor (100-180 HP)Required

Used or off-lease pricing. Shared with other row crops; not a dedicated dry-bean cost.

$60,000

Storage Requirements

Grain bin (on-farm)

Temperature

35–60°F

Max Storage

180 days

Long-term dry storage

Temperature

35–60°F

Max Storage

540 days

Financial Return

4/6

Revenue Above Average

Gross revenue $688/ac vs catalog median $6,000/ac. Below median.

Input Costs Acceptable

Annual operating cost $255/ac vs catalog 75th percentile $6,300/ac. Within typical range.

Payback Period OK

Reaches full production in 0 years. Acceptable payback.

Insurance Available

Federal crop insurance or an equivalent risk product is available.

Revenue Per Labor Hour

Cannot compute — labor hours not recorded. Catalog median is $13.16/hr.

Grants/Subsidies

Vegetable crops are eligible under the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

Economics Breakdown

Avg Price/Unit$25//cwt
Gross Revenue/Acre$3,750
Annual Operating Cost$1,000/acre
Establishment Cost$245/acre
Total Input Cost—/acre
Net Return/Acre$2,000
Revenue/Labor Hour—
Crop Insurance Available

Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (2025)

Risk Profile

6/6

Manageable Pest/Disease

3 of 9 documented risks are high-severity (33%) against a catalog median of 36%. Risk load is manageable by conventional IPM.

Market Diversified

4 viable market channels of 6 documented, plus 2 named buyers. Not dependent on a single outlet.

Low Establishment Risk

0 years to full production at $245/ac establishment cost. Low establishment exposure.

Climate Resilient

Tolerates zones 3-11 (9 zones). Broad tolerance indicates resilience to seasonal variability.

Regulatory Burden Low

No crop-specific licensing or reporting regime beyond standard food-safety and pesticide rules.

Diversifies Portfolio

Adds a vegetable revenue stream distinct from the region's grape-dominated base.

Known Risks

disease

White Mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)high

Most damaging disease of dry beans in temperate regions. Produces white cottony growth on stems and pods. Sclerotia persist in soil. Favored by dense canopy and wet conditions.

Common Bacterial Blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli)moderate

Seed-borne bacterial disease causing water-soaked lesions on leaves and pods. Reduces yield and seed quality. Spreads rapidly in warm, wet conditions.

Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV)moderate

Seed-borne and aphid-transmitted virus causing mosaic patterns, leaf curling, and stunting. Can reduce yields 25-60%.

Root Rot Complex (Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Pythium)moderate

Multiple soil pathogens cause seedling damping off and root rot, especially in cool, wet soils. Fusarium root rot is most persistent.

pest

Mexican Bean Beetle (Epilachna varivestis)moderate

Ladybird beetle relative whose larvae skeletonize leaves from underneath. Major pest in eastern North America. Can defoliate entire fields.

Bean Leaf Beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata)low

Adults feed on leaves creating round holes; larvae feed on roots and nodules. Also vectors bean pod mottle virus.

climate

Heat Stress During Floweringhigh

Dry beans are sensitive to temperatures >32°C during flowering. Heat causes flower abortion, reduced pod set, and yield loss. Climate change increases frequency.

weather

Harvest-Season Rain Damagehigh

Rain at harvest maturity causes seed staining, sprouting in pod, and quality downgrade. Dry beans are pulled or cut and windrowed before combining.

market

Price Volatilitymoderate

Dry bean markets are thin and price-volatile compared to corn/soybean. Prices swing with global supply (Mexico, China, Myanmar). Contract pricing helps stabilize.

Nutritional Yield

USDA FoodData Central
Profile based on Beans, black, mature seeds, raw (dry_seed form)
Edible mass per acre680 kg
Computed: 1,500 lbs/acre × 0.45 kg/unit × 100% edible

Macronutrients

NutrientPer 100 gPer acre
Calories341 kcal2,320,164 kcal
Protein21.6 g146,966 g
Total fat1.4 g9,662 g
Carbohydrates62.4 g424,297 g
Fiber15.5 g105,462 g
Sugar2.1 g14,424 g

Key micronutrients

Iron
5 mg /100g
34,156 mg / acre
Calcium
123 mg /100g
836,892 mg / acre
Potassium
1,483 mg /100g
10,090,332 mg / acre
Vitamin C
0 mg /100g
0 mg / acre
Vitamin A
17 IU /100g
115,668 IU / acre
Folate
444 mcg /100g
3,020,976 mcg / acre

Uncertainty: Per-acre values are estimates that compound the yield range, edible-fraction assumption, and a single representative nutrient panel. Treat them as order-of-magnitude planning numbers, not nutritional advice. Confidence: high.

Ecosystem Services

Nutrient cycling

  • Rotational break in cereal sequences
    moderate

    As a broadleaf pulse, dry bean interrupts cereal disease and weed cycles, and its residue decomposes faster than cereal straw, releasing nutrients earlier in the following season.

    Applies when: Benefit depends on rotation length; back-to-back pulses forfeit it and raise white mould risk.
    Evidence: Extension guidance·Confidence: medium

Biodiversity

  • Rotational diversity in row-crop systems
    moderate

    Adds a distinct crop family to corn and small-grain rotations, broadening the soil biological community relative to a continuous cereal system.

    Evidence: Extension guidance·Confidence: medium

Soil nitrogen

  • Partial biological nitrogen fixation
    low

    Dry beans fix nitrogen but are, in the words of Saskatchewan Agriculture, "relatively poor N-fixers, producing less than 45% of their N requirement". The rotational nitrogen credit is therefore materially smaller than for soybean or forage legumes, and the crop still needs residual soil N or fertiliser to meet its 78-90 lb N/ac demand at 2,000 lb/ac yield.

    Applies when: Requires effective Rhizobium inoculation; do not budget a full legume N credit for the following crop.
    Evidence: Extension guidance·Confidence: high

Cultivars

Named varieties and what the sources say sets each apart. A cultivar-specific zone, chill or maturity figure overrides the species value above.

No cultivars recorded yet for this crop.

Grows With / Avoid Near

Documented interactions with other catalog crops — shared pests, allelopathy, rotation effects, alley and understory pairings — for companion, guild and rotation planning. Plan a combination with Dry Bean →

Avoid near, or plan around (44)

Grows with (13)

Tolerates (2)

Direction matters: a rotation benefit of A before B says nothing about B before A. Interactions are documented pairs only; absence is a research gap, not a clean bill.

Nearby Buyers

Radius from Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt:
No registered buyers for this crop within 50 miles.

Data Sources

Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.

Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.

Economics data year: 2025 · Basis: lake erie View economics source →

54 tracked changes across 8 data categories

Core Crop Data

Oct 1, 20262 entries
Region-neutral cleanup audit
Apr 16, 20261 entry
completeness_recalc
Apr 16, 20262 entries
Apr 16, 20261 entry
Apr 16, 20261 entry

Drainage Preferences

Soil Preferences

Risks & Threats

Crop Picker

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Your Location

  • Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt
  • NY / PA
  • United States
  • Zone 6a

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Experimental research database. AI-assisted, may contain errors. Not formal agricultural, financial, or planting advice. Verify with your local extension service before making decisions.

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