After over two centuries guiding farmers, gardeners, and families throughout North America, the Farmers' Almanac has announced its 2026 edition will be the final one.
As per Newsweek, First published in 1818, the Maine-based periodical would go on to become an American institution, providing weather forecasts, gardening advice, home remedies, trivia, and humour. Its final issue will conclude with an astonishing 208-year career.
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A legacy of practical advice
The Farmers' Almanac became widely known for its long-range weather forecasts, which relied on a secret formula involving sunspots, planetary positions, and lunar cycles. Beyond weather, it provided practical guidance on planting schedules, fishing days, and home remedies, often quoted and relied upon by several generations, Hindustan Times reported. “Many of you grew up hearing your parents or grandparents quote from the Almanac… We are incredibly proud of the legacy we leave behind,” editors Sandi Duncan and emeritus editor Peter Geiger wrote on their website.
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Financial pressures in a changing media landscape
Despite a loyal readership, the Almanac faced growing financial challenges. The Hindustan Times quoted the Editors saying, "growing financial challenges of producing and distributing the Almanac in today's chaotic media environment" as the motive for discontinuing publication. The Almanac reported 2.1 million in circulation across North America at its peak in 2017, including urban readers who were interested in home gardening and locally grown food. For that wide range of readers, the publication frequently featured both traditional farmhouses and city skylines on its covers.
Although the Almanac will no longer be printed or available digitally, the editors encouraged their readers to keep its spirit alive. "Tell the kids how granddad always swore by the Almanac. That’s how our story stays alive,” Hindustan Times quoted the editors saying.
