A method of making a flowable, dried agglomerated nutrient medium, the method comprising: introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber; wherein the nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism; wherein the agglomeration liquid is introduced as an atomized spray; wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles; and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium, wherein introducing a nutrient component into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the nutrient component at a feed rate of about 50 kg/hour to about 1000 kg/hour; wherein introducing an agglomeration liquid into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the agglomeration liquid at a spray rate about 15 kg/hour to about 300 kg/hour; wherein the agglomerator further comprises a mixing blade, wherein the mixing blade is rotated at a blade rotation rate of about 500 rpm to about 4000 rpm; wherein exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to drying conditions comprises exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to a predetermined temperature about 60°C to about 85°C; wherein the feed rate, the spray rate, the blade rotation rate, and the predetermined temperature are selected to produce a dried agglomerated nutrient medium having particles of a first particle size distribution range of about 105 microns to about 2000 microns; and further comprising selecting a subpopulation of the particles, the subpopulation having a second particle size distribution range that is narrower than the first particle size distribution range, the second particle size distribution range being about 149 microns to about 1000 microns. introducing a nutrient component comprising a powdered nutrient, and an agglomeration liquid, into an agglomerator comprising a flow-through-type agglomeration chamber; wherein the nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism; wherein the agglomeration liquid is introduced as an atomized spray; wherein the nutrient component facilitates the growth of a microorganism; wherein the agglomeration liquid is introduced as an atomized spray; wet-massing the nutrient component with the agglomeration liquid in the agglomeration chamber for a predetermined period of time to form agglomerated nutrient medium particles; and exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium particles to drying conditions for a period of time to form the dried, agglomerated nutrient medium, wherein introducing a nutrient component into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the nutrient component at a feed rate of about 50 kg/hour to about 1000 kg/hour; wherein introducing an agglomeration liquid into the agglomeration chamber comprises introducing the agglomeration liquid at a spray rate about 15 kg/hour to about 300 kg/hour; wherein the agglomerator further comprises a mixing blade, wherein the mixing blade is rotated at a blade rotation rate of about 500 rpm to about 4000 rpm; wherein exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to drying conditions comprises exposing the agglomerated nutrient medium to a predetermined temperature about 60°C to about 85°C; wherein the feed rate, the spray rate, the blade rotation rate, and the predetermined temperature are selected to produce a dried agglomerated nutrient medium having particles of a first particle size distribution range of about 105 microns to about 2000 microns; and further comprising selecting a subpopulation of the particles, the subpopulation having a second particle size distribution range that is narrower than the first particle size distribution range, the second particle size distribution range being about 149 microns to about 1000 microns.