To evaluate the use of SuperDFM on the improving of the winter survival rate of honey bees.

Project Overview

FNC21-1268
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2021: $25,320.00
Projected End Date: 01/31/2023
Grant Recipient: ECIBA
Region: North Central
State: Indiana
Project Coordinator:
James Steven Doty
Email
ECIBA

Commodities

  • Animals: bees
  • Animal Products: honey

Practices

  • Animal Production: probiotics

    Summary:

    We are losing 40% of our honey bee colonies over the winter.  We want to study if Super DFM will improve the survival rate.  One beekeeper has used it over the past two years with great success.  It is a specialized probiotic formula for honey bees which promotes optimal bee gut health.  It is all natural and a completely safe probiotic supplement.  We have the participants just sprinkle it on the top of the brood frames four to five times throughout the 2021 season.  It is safe to use all year round even during honey flows.  This proposal should be seen as building on past work and not a repeat of same methodologies. 

    Project objectives:

    The primary objectives of this study are to determine if the use of the probiotic Super DFM will significantly improve the strength of the honey bee health and  improve  their  winter survival rate.   Making bees stronger will help them fight off diseases themselves and avoid the use of other chemicals that beekeepers are now using.  Also, having stronger bees will allow beekeepers to do less feeding of sugar supplements because the bees will be able to bring in more nectar and pollen.  Using 100 hives will give us a good sample size.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.