Following seven-year field studies showing 10-30% water savings, SURFMAX is now available in California

GILBERT, Ariz., U.S., April 28, 2026 – Huma® announces the registration of SURF-MAX®, a water optimizer and next-generation surfactant, for use in California, expanding its availability across key U.S. agricultural markets, including the West and Southwest. The company also reveals findings from seven-year studies that show significant improvements in water use efficiency and nutrient density.

“As growers in California, Arizona and much of the West face tightening water allocations and rising pressure to do more with less, SURF-MAX will help them make every drop count,” said Fred Nichols, Huma® Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. “SURF-MAX changes how water behaves in soil. Instead of pooling, running off, or sitting where roots can’t access it, water moves efficiently, reaching deeper, spreading more evenly and staying available longer.”

Results from the seven-year field studies showed SURF-MAX maintained consistent crop yields while achieving the following reductions in irrigation water: 22% in lettuce, 20% in olives, 15% in tomatoes, and 10-30% in broccoli. SURF-MAX is also labeled for use on blueberries, carrots, cotton, fruit trees, melons, peppers, potatoes, and strawberries.

“SURF-MAX essentially makes water wetter,” said Huma® Agronomist Barrett Smith. “It improves how water moves through the soil: reducing runoff, increasing infiltration and delivering moisture and nutrients where roots can actually use them. The result is strong performance with less water.”

Improved nutrient density was also observed across multiple crops. In processed tomatoes, increases included 50% in phosphorus, 28% in copper, 17% in manganese and 11% in iron. Starch increased 2.5% in potatoes.

“The biological impact of SURF-MAX goes beyond hydration,” Smith explains. “In modern agriculture, we often forget that roots need to breathe as much as they need to drink. By managing surface tension, SURF-MAX facilitates the creation of oxygen-rich micropores within the soil. This maximizes the ROI of every fertigation cycle. We shift from watering the plants to managing the physics — and biology — of the soil”.

Powered by Micro Carbon Technology®, the foundational building block of Huma®, SURF-MAX is applied at very low rates, typically at one pint per acre. It is biodegradable and supports a beneficial soil ecosystem, making it a great fit for both performance and sustainability goals.

“With expanded registrations, more growers now have access to a tool designed for today’s reality,” Nichols added. “Where water isn’t guaranteed and efficiency is everything.”

To learn more about SURF-MAX, visit go.huma.us/Surf_Max.

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About Huma®
Huma®, Inc., is a global leader offering carbon-based humic solutions and biostimulants across the world. Founded in 1973, the three-generation, employee-owned company is headquartered in Gilbert, Arizona. Huma® is a fully integrated provider of dry and liquid humic products, operating mines in New Mexico and Idaho. The extensive Huma® product line accelerates regenerative ag systems, enhances beneficial microorganism activity, improves soil and crop health, increases nutrient availability and uptake, helps crops overcome abiotic or environmental stresses, and remediates or breaks down excess or toxic hydrocarbon and chemical compounds. Visit huma.us and follow the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube to learn more and stay connected.

Media Contact
Alison Stahle
480.410.6325
alison@huma.us

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