Terra Nova Research , LLC's
irrigation by subsurface retention is a viable adaptive responsible Agricultural Water Management strategy to survive drought and increase yield.
Sequestering water is a time-tested successful strategy for millenia but not at scale for row crops. Terra Nova is the culmination of decades of development. Our patent has 20 improvements over existing devices.
While Subsurface Drip Irrigation ( SDI ) is more efficient than obsolete ditch or pivot which loses 50% to evaporation, membrane captures water for weeks instead of allowing it to drop to the water table in hours.
Subsurface water retention has never resulted in any negative result. In drought areas, it could be the difference between farming and grazing.
Benefits:
1. drought tolerance / survival
2. maximizes yields in extant fields.
3. reduced input costs
seed, water, electricity, diesel, fertilizer
4. better quality = higher farm gate price
5. renders sandy soils arable
6 eliminates deep breaking
7. prevents soil erosion
Our " bravo " ( version 2 ) unit is ready to dig on short notice.
contact us for quotation on custom installation. Price is a function of number of acres, location and amount of membrane required ( orchard or row ). We bring the device and the membrane. You provide the tractor and labor.
click here for our you tube channel
Major sponsor of Plains Cotton Growers
Association conference April 7, 2026
Water Bankruptcy Countdown
Dams, Aquifers and even the mighty Mississippi are depleting at an alarming rate with no chance of replenishment. The assumption of stability, of inexhaustible water both above and below ground made a century ago were literally a high water mark.
Examples abound of water authorities and the Army Corps of Engineers resorting to increasingly desperate measures. New Mexico is a harbinger of water rationing. Ironically, farmers watch helplessly as water passes them by due to the Colorado River Compact. California's groundwater protection act is a heartbeat away from old fashioned fallow farming. Las Vegas spent $ 1.4 billion on the " third straw" pipeline to fill Lake Mead and it's still not enough. In New Mexico, they have given up on replenishment. The policy has shifted to dividing the fishes and loaves. Kansas has declared a drought emergency.
When the crisis becomes acute, capture and conservation will become priority. At some point, underwriters and bankers will look at accessibility to water in risk management. Farm bankruptcies were up 46% in 2025 due to increased debt load and operating costs. Basic scarcity economics dictate that water costs will increase unless you are the Resnicks or Fondamomte. If Sam Bass prevails in Texas, water costs will be prohibitive.
Member Utah Farm Bureau
Our groundbreaking "alpha" version had a short life. Turns out it was not concrete breaking. It literally ran into concrete during a test in 2024. It was like our Kitty Hawk. The small test plot did further substantiate proof of concept. Scroll down for pictures of cotton before and after.
We gave a sneak preview in Lubbock, TX on July 24,2025.
click on the link for local Lubbock news coverage.
First production run of membrane September 2025
About Terra Nova Research
Terra Nova Research, a Delaware LLC, is dedicated to revolutionizing water conservation in sandy soils through innovative engineering and applied academic research. Founded to bridge the gap between non-scalable university research and real-world agricultural needs, we will optimize yields on extant farms and bring cutting-edge solutions to over 5 billion acres of sandy soil in global agricultural production. Our mission is to enhance sustainability and productivity, transforming farming practices worldwide with practical, science-driven technologies.
About founder James Franz
James Franz has a bachelor's degree in Engineering from General Motors
Institute in Flint, MI. He has a Master's in Engineering from University of
Michigan. He trained in Japan at Toyota. He achieved a Shingo-prize which
is the highest award for organizational excellence.
His 39 year career in manufacturing has taken him to 58 countries.
James is a pilot and international public speaker.
The Technology
Since ancient times, hydrology has been the lifeblood of farming. By capturing rainfall versus allowing water to drain to the water table, crops achieve their maximum potential in terms of yield and quality. While biochar and cover crops help, subsurface membranes are far superior.
Terranova buries thin layers of polymer at about 24 inches below tillage level.
The subsurface film is in multiple rows to allow exchange of air and microbes.
