(LOOTPRESS) – After more than 200 years of predicting the weather, offering gardening wisdom, and sharing old-fashioned remedies, the Farmers’ Almanac is closing its pages for good.
The 208-year-old publication announced Thursday that its 2026 edition, now available in stores, will be its last. Editors cited the growing financial strain of producing and distributing the book amid what they called today’s “chaotic media environment.” Online access will end next month.
Founded in 1818 and based in Maine, the Farmers’ Almanac has long been a staple for farmers, gardeners, and weather enthusiasts. Distinct from its older rival, The Old Farmer’s Almanac in neighboring New Hampshire, the publication became famous for its long-range weather forecasts—generated using a secret formula said to factor in sunspots, planetary movements, and lunar cycles.
Beyond its weather predictions, the Farmers’ Almanac featured gardening advice, trivia, humor, and home remedies such as catnip for pain relief and elderberry syrup for immunity. At its peak in 2017, it reported a circulation of 2.1 million across North America, with a growing following among urban readers interested in sustainability and home gardening.
In a farewell message titled “A Fond Farewell,” Editor Sandi Duncan and Editor Emeritus Peter Geiger wrote, “The season we hoped would never come is here. We are incredibly proud of the legacy we leave behind and are filled with gratitude. We appreciate and thank our loyal readers, contributors, and partners who have supported us through the years. Though the Almanac will no longer be available in print or online, it lives on within you.”
Duncan separately reflected on the end of an era, calling the publication “an annual tradition in millions of homes and hearths for hundreds of years” and “a way of life” that connected generations.
Fittingly, the Farmers’ Almanac’s final cover blends the past and present—featuring both a rustic farmhouse and modern skyscrapers, a nod to the wide range of readers who turned to its pages for guidance, humor, and a glimpse of what the skies might bring.
