Financial challenges end 208-year run of Farmers’ Almanac

Financial Challenges End 208-Year Run of Farmers’ Almanac

The Farmers’ Almanac has announced that the 2026 edition will be its last, ending a 208-year tradition of weather forecasting based on sunspots, planetary positions, and lunar cycles. The decision is attributed to growing financial difficulties in producing and distributing the publication amid today's chaotic media landscape.

History and Background

First published in 1818 and based in Maine, the Farmers’ Almanac has served farmers, gardeners, and weather enthusiasts for over two centuries. It should not be confused with the older Old Farmer’s Almanac from neighboring New Hampshire.

Content and Popularity

The almanac is known for its secret formula that forecasts long-range weather patterns using celestial phenomena. Alongside weather predictions, it provides gardening tips, trivia, jokes, and natural remedies such as catnip for pain relief and elderberry syrup to boost immunity.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the end of what has not only been an annual tradition in millions of homes and hearths for hundreds of years, but also a way of life, an inspiration for many who realise the wisdom of generations past is the key to the generations of the future,” said Editor Sandi Duncan.

Closure Details

Access to the online version of the almanac will end next month, marking the close of an era just as its print edition concludes.

Summary: The Farmers’ Almanac, a trusted source of weather forecasts and traditional wisdom for over two centuries, will cease publication in 2026 due to financial pressures in the modern media environment.

South China Morning Post — 2025-11-07