A mushroom extract fed to honeybees can greatly reduce virus levels, according to a new paper from Washington State University scientists, the USDA and colleagues at Fungi Perfecti, a business based in Olympia, Washington.

There's widespread concern about the global decline of honey bees and the associated loss of pollination services.

Beekeepers lose colonies of honeybees on a regular basis; a bee is a fragile creature with a short lifespan even in the best of times, and there are many, many issues that can cause the loss of a colony.

Honey production in the United States is at an all-time low. In the March 13 Honey report, the US Department of Agriculture said that US honey production in 2025 totaled 116 million lbs, down 14% from 2024 and the lowest amount the United States has ever produced in one year since records were started in 1939. That’s a concern because, unlike other sweeteners, consumer demand for honey is on the rise.