Every farmer knows the value of getting in the field sooner — but residue breakdown can hold you back

No-Till Farmer shares a product demo with PhycoTerra to explore how today’s residue management decisions affect costs, planting windows, and long-term soil health.

We show how growers are feeding their soil biology to reduce residue, warm soils up to 5°F faster in the spring, and gain 2+ extra planting days — while protecting yields and improving ROI.

Dustin Blunier (Director of Agronomy, PhycoTerra®) and Chad Rubbelke (Rubbelke Farms) share field-tested data, economics, and practical ways to integrate a new approach into any post-harvest program — without overhauling your system.

Key Takeaways

  • The real economic cost of tillage & unmanaged residue
  • How feeding microbes can reduce residue up to 21% by spring, warm soil up to 5°F, and unlock nutrients
  • Field-proven ROI: $59-$108/acre payback, supported by multi-year, third-party data
  • Practical integration: Post-harvest, burndown, pre-till, or in-season — fits existing programs

Email John Dobberstein at No-Till Farmer with any questions about the webinar.

This free digital product demo is brought to you by No-Till Farmer and PhycoTerra.

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About the Speakers

Dustin Blunier

Dustin Blunier — Director of Agronomy, PhycoTerra

Dustin Blunier is an experienced agronomist and agribusiness professional with a strong track record in the commercial agriculture industry. In his current role, Dustin bridges the gap between research, product development and commercialization teams, translating field-level insights into actionable information and strategies, supporting the dissemination of performance data, product messaging, and trial results.

A Certified Crop Advisor, Dustin brings over two decades of expertise in agronomic consulting, precision seeding technology, and product development. His career has included leadership roles in training, marketing, event management, and grower consulting, working with top-tier farm equipment companies Precision Planting and Falcon Soil Technology as well as crop input companies Helena Agri-Enterprises and AgReliant Genetics to help growers implement data-driven fertility and seeding programs.

Chad Rubbelke

Chad Rubbelke — Owner, Rubbelke Farms

Chad Rubbelke is the owner of Rubbelke Farms, a 3,000-acre farm operation, and a respected voice in the on-farm research communities. Raised in a family where conservation and sustainable farming were central, Chad’s grandfather’s environmental stewardship left a strong impression, shaping Chad’s belief that healthy soil and science-led decisions are essential to productive farming.

He manages all facets of the business - marketing, financial planning, mechanical operations, and scientific experimentation - and has pushed for innovation in how inputs are applied. Chad also plays a leadership role in on-farm research with a footprint spanning North Dakota and Iowa. He continually tests and refines practices - harnessing data and tweaking inputs - to boost yields while preserving environmental health.