The home office of Miller's Honey Farms, Inc. was established in 1917, when N.E. Miller sent his son Earl into Southeast Idaho to seek additional bee pasture. Earl joined in a partnership with Einar Nelson, which lasted several years. Later, the two beekeepers split their operations into two separate companies. Earl also established a branch of the business in Salmon, Idaho. In 1954, Earl's son, Neil took over the Idaho branch. Earl moved to Colton, California to join his brother Woodrow in the honey packing business. Neil operated the Blackfoot outfit until 1996. In 1996, he sold the outfit to his sons, Jay, and John Miller.

In 1970, Miller Honey Farms opened a new branch in Gackle, North Dakota. It has grown considerably. It is now one of the largest beekeeping outfits in North Dakota. John Miller has managed or owned this operation since 1980. The Gackle operation annually harvests over a million pounds of high quality honey for markets in the Eastern United States.

In 1974, Miller Honey Farms opened a new branch in Newcastle, California. Population growth in the San Bernardino area of Southern California made it difficult to keep bees. A new industry, the almond industry was just emerging in California. Almond trees require honey bees to pollinate the crop. John Miller has managed or owned this operation since 1980. Due to population growth in Northern California it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep bees in the region.

Since 1996, Miller Honey Farms has tested several additional sites for beekeeping. Branches have been tried in Visalia, California for Orange Blossom honey production. Apple pollination work has been developed in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State. A new effort is being undertaken near Temple, Texas. This new operation in Texas will replace pasture lost to urbanization in California. Jay Miller is the primary driver of these new locations, due to his friendship with fellow beekeepers in many states.

Beekeeping is a rapidly changing industry. Demand for pollination services is growing. Non-native parasitic mites devastate U.S. beehives. Beekeepers go out of business. Other countries can produce honey. The honey market is manipulated by governments. Finding willing workers is a global challenge. Most of what the beekeeping industry needs to know to survive and thrive over the next five years will come from outside the industry. Beekeepers must develop new methods. Beekeepers are resilient, and resourceful. U.S. Honeybees Pollinate U.S. Crops. Buy U. S. Honey.

John Miller