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Diamond Farm

Since taking over the family farm operation in Jay in 1984, Mickey Diamond has increased his acreage from 125 to over 1,700 and has been a leader in better farming practices. Extension agents cited Diamond as Northwest Florida Ag Innovator of the Year for 2011. His No. 1 change, Diamond says, has been a switch to strip tillage, which decreases soil erosion and water evaporation and saves fuel. Diamond also was among Florida’s first to plant BT cottonseed, designed to resist bollworms and Army worms. He also grows peanuts, soybeans and wheat.