Since I am a frequent shopper at Buchheit in Herculaneum, my wife Kelly will tell you that it was not so coincidental that I was in the store on the same day I heard the news that the Farmers’ Almanac was ceasing publication.
I had just seen a display rack full of the familiar, yellow-covered publications. It couldn’t be true. For more than 230 years The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been providing weather forecasts, planting guidance and much more in a handy guidebook. These days I even get regular emails from almanac.com with interesting updates.
The original, established in 1792 by Robert B. Thomas, is not going anywhere. The announcement on Nov. 6 was in regard to the Farmers’ Almanac, which was established, and published since 1818.
“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 realize the wisdom of generations past is the key to the generations of the future,” said editor Sandi Duncan in a posted press release.
As sad as it is to report on the demise of any business, and in particular a long-serving and well-respected publication, I am glad to know it was not my little golden book that is going away. The same day as the announcement, The Old Farmer’s Almanac issued a press release of its own.
“As sure as the seasons change, we will continue to publish our annual edition – with our much anticipated weather forecasts – in print and digital for generations to come,” the email stated.
I have never been much of an advocate for the credibility of their weather predictions. I barely trust the guys who come on in the morning with first alerts about what their models tell them will happen in the afternoon. The almanac’s generalities and regional approach make the forecasting success similar to that of a broken clock, which is right twice a day.
So pardon my reluctance to confer with its weather prognostications, but I always find the periodical contains plenty that is “useful, with a pleasant degree of humor,” as the original claims on its cover.
Inside edition No. 234, the 2026 version includes several feature stories that stood out to me. The Healing Power of Honey backs up the folklore behind the natural cure-all with modern medical discoveries and tested remedy recipes. The essay on space junk included frightening facts about 130 million pea-sized pieces, and 29,000 orbiting objects larger than 4-inches, “moving far faster than high-velocity bullets.”
My favorite story was a sports special report about the summer of 1941, when Joe DiMaggio set his 56-game hitting streak record, and Ted Williams batted .406, the last time any hitter topped the .400 mark. “It all happened one summer when America needed to believe in heroes.”
My parents and grandparents relied on the almanac’s guidance for garden planting. Its “Planting by the Moon’s Phase” chart on Page 230 provides the best dates for about 40 vegetables and crops including everything from barley to zucchini. The moon signs also offer suggestions for the best days each month to quit smoking, brew beer, get a hair cut, harvest crops, wean pigs, wash windows, and more than three dozen other activities.
I’m not sure about the veracity of those claims, but if they were good enough for my mom and Grandpa Joe, I am willing to confer with the book for planning my planting.
Where I do find my almanac most reliable are in its astronomy listings. Page 102 says 2026 will have two solar eclipses that will not be visible from most of North America and two lunar eclipses that viewing will depend on how close to each coast you happen to be. On March 3 the total eclipse of the moon will be best viewed in central and western United States. The partial lunar eclipse on Aug. 27-28 will be a better show from an Atlantic shore.
Save the Dates on Page 152 says the next total solar eclipse visible in North America will be August 23, 2044. I hope The Old Farmer’s Almanac and I are still around for that.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine. If you have story ideas for the Leader outdoor news page, e-mail ogmjohnw@aol.com, and you can find more outdoor news and updates at johnjwink.com.