Compton Irrigation
Location: Lamar, Mo., in Barton County
Owner: Robert Compton
Company History: In the early 1960’s, deep well irrigation in Barton County, Mo., was an unknown and untapped resource. Robert Compton’s father Carl and their neighbor Sherrell Bean were pioneers. Armed with little but their gut feelings, some training and a used cable-driven drilling apparatus, the two men started drilling. At around 1,000 feet, they hit soft water, and lots of it – the rest is history. The two men continued drilling wells for their own use, and in 1965, Carl became a dealer for Valley Irrigation. Since then, they have quit drilling wells but have expanded to do just about everything else.
Services Offered: Irrigating ground requires a lot more than just drilling a hole or running some pipe, and Robert is there to help with every step. Producers today are more concerned with efficiency, conservation and stewardship than ever, and the business offers products to fit any plan. They work with their customers to tailor-make strategies to utilize resources without waste. A growing segment of the industry as a whole is nutrient management. The Comptons have around 4,500 acres and 100 head of cattle. They use the products they sell, so they know exactly what will work in every situation.
Company Goals: Robert would like to see more people establish irrigation systems that are capable of capitalizing on animal waste products. He works with local Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offices, and customers are often able to use federal grant funds to help finance their projects.
Story and Photo by Adam Stratton
