Strong Microbials got their start producing probiotics to improve the health of cattle, dairy cows, poultry and swine. Their products improved animal food digestion resulting in overall animal health. In 2012 they became interested in doing the same thing for honey bees. In this episode, we talk with Vera and Slava about their probiotic use to aid honey bee health and well-being.

Multiple bacteria are present in all nectars, pollens, propolis and the environment.  Honey bees need these bacteria to aid not only in digestion, but also to improve immune response and combating stressors detrimental to their health. Strong Microbials' product, Super DFM-Honey Bee, is a probiotic of naturally occurring bacteria. The probiotic aids in restoring the natural gut biome of bees challenged by unbalanced food sources from monoculture crops, holding yards, drought, food shortages, antibiotics, pesticides and several pathogens, including chalkbrood.

Listen today and learn more from the producers of Super DFM-Honey Bee and Strong Microbials.

Websites and links mentioned in the podcast:

• Strong Microbials Website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com/
• Strong Microbials Science Blog: https://beesciencenews.com/
• Strong Microbials on Twitter: @strongmicrobial
• Strong Microbials on Instagram: strongmicrobials
• Bee Space to Bee Hive - Kim's Book Review: https://www.bee-craft.com/shop/books/bee-space-to-bee-hive

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This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global Patties is a family business that manufactures protein supplement patties for honey bees. Feeding your hives protein supplement patties will help ensure that they produce strong and health colonies by increasing brood production and overall honey flow. Global offers a variety of standard patties, as well as custom patties to meet your specific needs. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 

We want to also thank 2 Million Blossoms as a sponsor of the podcast. 2 Million Blossoms is a new quarterly magazine destined for your coffee table. Each page of the magazine is dedicated to the stories and photos of all pollinators and written by leading researchers, photographers and our very own, Kim Flottum.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments: [email protected]

Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com

Thank you for listening! 

Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong"