Farmers’ Almanac to End Publication After 208 Years

The Farmers’ Almanac, a staple of American households for more than two centuries, will publish its final edition in 2026, ending a 208-year run of long-range weather forecasts, planting calendars and practical household wisdom.

Editors Peter Geiger and Sandi Duncan announced that both print and digital operations will shut down by December 2025. They cited rising production costs, distribution challenges and the changing media environment as key reasons behind the decision.

“The financial challenges of producing and distributing the Farmers’ Almanac in today’s chaotic media world have simply become too great,” the editors said in a statement on the publication’s website.

The 2026 edition will serve as the publication’s farewell issue and will remain available in stores and online for a limited time before the website, FarmersAlmanac.com, goes offline.

 

Founded in 1818 by David Young and Jacob Mann in Morristown, New Jersey, the Farmers’ Almanac began as a compact 36-page booklet filled with weather predictions, astronomical data, and seasonal advice. Over the decades, it became a fixture in American life, passed down through generations and often kept beside kitchen tables and garden benches.

By the late 19th century, the publication had expanded beyond agriculture, adding home remedies, health tips, and household advice. Under the long tenure of editor Raymond Geiger, who took over in 1933, the Almanac modernized while retaining its traditional tone and famously “secret formula” for forecasting weather — said to rely on solar activity, planetary positions and tidal patterns.

In 1949, operations moved to Lewiston, Maine, where the magazine continued to be published. Even in the digital age, the Farmers’ Almanac maintained a devoted following, reaching millions of readers annually through print and online platforms.

 

 

Throughout its long history, the Farmers’ Almanac became more than a forecasting tool. It was a fixture of Americana — known for its distinctive orange-and-green cover and down-to-earth tone. Its predictions have been cited in popular culture and even in courtrooms: Abraham Lincoln famously used an almanac in 1857 to dispute a witness’s testimony about the moon’s visibility in a murder trial.

At its peak under Geiger’s editorship, the Farmers’ Almanac reached circulation in the millions. Its blend of humor, tradition, and practicality appealed to both rural and urban readers. Topics ranged from “best days to plant corn” to “how to calm a bee sting with vinegar.”

Despite its long-standing popularity, scientists have long questioned the accuracy of its long-range forecasts, which are often produced up to 16 months in advance. Independent reviews have found its accuracy to be roughly comparable to chance. Still, the forecasts remained a beloved tradition for readers who valued its charm and nostalgia as much as its predictions.

 

Editors said the closure comes as part of a larger shift in media consumption. The print industry continues to face steep cost increases in paper, shipping, and production. While the Farmers’ Almanac successfully expanded into digital publishing and social media, it struggled to sustain operations solely through online revenue.

“Our readers have been loyal for generations,” Duncan said. “It’s a difficult decision, but the economics of publishing have changed dramatically.”

The publication’s website and social channels will remain active through 2025, allowing readers to access archives, gardening resources, and the final year of forecasts.

Its competitor, the Old Farmer’s Almanac—a separate publication founded in 1792—will continue operations from its headquarters in New Hampshire.

 

 

 

1818 — First edition published by David Young and Jacob Mann in Morristown, New Jersey.
1840s — Gains wide readership across the eastern United States.
1870s — Begins including home and health advice.
1900 — Expands national distribution through post offices and general stores.
1933 — Raymond Geiger becomes editor, ushering in modernization and the use of a “secret formula” for forecasts.
1949 — Headquarters move to Lewiston, Maine. 1990s — Launches first website, adapting to the digital era.
2010 — Builds social media presence, attracting a younger audience. 2020 — Marks 200 years in continuous print.
November 2025 — Editors announce closure after the 2026 edition.
December 2025 — Website and digital operations set to close. 2026 — Final edition released, marking the end of 208 years of publication.

The Farmers’ Almanac was more than a magazine—it was a seasonal ritual. For generations, families consulted its pages to plan gardens, fishing trips, or weddings “by the signs.” Its disappearance marks not only the loss of a historic publication but also a symbol of how print culture has evolved in the digital age.

While its forecasts will fade from print, its influence remains embedded in American culture — in the gardens, traditions, and conversations of readers who, for over two centuries, trusted its folksy guidance.