Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast calls for continued publication

A competitor’s closure fuels confusion — and a fresh burst of publicity and sales

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which has a circulation of more than 2.5 million, is published annually by Yankee Publishing Inc., the parent company of NH Business Review.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is having a banner year, selling more than 2.3 million copies and even going into a second printing. Got that?

A competitor — with a very similar name — has shut down. The Farmer’s Almanac, based in Lewiston, Maine, announced Nov. 6 that it was ceasing publication with its 2026 edition.

“After more than 200 years of sharing a unique blend of weather, wit and wisdom, we’ve made the very difficult decision to write the final chapter of this historical publication,” said Sandi Duncan and Peter Geiger, editor and editor emeritus respectively, on farmersalmanac.com.

The news prompted the editors of the Old Farmer’s Almanac to alert readers on almanac.com and through social media channels that their publication, while older than dirt, was very much alive. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is owned by Yankee Publishing Inc., the parent company of NH Business Review.

“Over the years, there has been some confusion between different almanacs, so to be clear: The OLD Farmer’s Almanac isn’t going anywhere,” Catherine Boeckmann, the almanac’s executive digital editor, said in a web post.

Anywhere except off the shelves and into the hands of readers: The fresh round of publicity led to a spike in sales for the 2026 edition of the Old Farmer’s Almanac three months after its original publication. With the holiday season just beginning, stock was depleted, said Sherin Pierce, the almanac’s publisher.

“We went back on press and reprinted 137,000 copies,” said Pierce, noting the outpouring of support from readers, including some who took to commenting online to correct media reports that got the story wrong.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is published in several versions, including the one with the handy hole punched through it so readers can hang it in their barns. The brand extends to gardening guides, calendars, email newsletters and almanac.com — all of which received newfound attention, Pierce said.

“It just exposed the brand in general.

The almanac was the impetus, but it just opened up the entire brand to the readership,” Pierce said.

Even with the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s editors’ efforts to get ahead of the story, the rumors continued to circulate weeks later.

Just moments before Yankee Publishing CEO Jamie Trowbridge addressed a Nov. 20 breakfast forum in Durham hosted by the UNH CEO and Family Enterprise Center, an audience member was heard saying they heard “the almanac was going away.”

During a presentation on the company’s 90-year history, Trowbridge was able to inform the group otherwise.

While diversifying the reach of the Old Farmer’s Almanac has led to new revenue streams and help ensure its continued survival and success, it’s not immune from rising costs.

“Publishing is not an easy business. The costs of everything — paper and printing, to name a few — are rising year-over-year, with the biggest squeeze coming from distribution channels,” said a press release credited to “Your Friends at The Old Farmer’s Almanac” that noted the cover price had remained the same this year.

Pierce said the episode underscored the relationship the Old Farmer’s Almanac has with its readers.

“I think it also made people understand that these are dire times when something goes out of business, if you don’t support what you like, it’s going to happen,” Pierce said. “You have to like put your money where your mouth is and actually do something.”

The Farmer’s Almanac, which is ceasing publication with its 2026 issue, is featured at Market Basket in Manchester on the second row of a display that was branded for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which will continue to be produced by Yankee Publishing Inc. (Photo by Mike Cote)

The Old Farmer’s Almanac, founded in 1792, is the oldest continuously published periodical in North America. Robb Sagendorph, founder of Yankee Publishing and Yankee Magazine, acquired the Old Farmer’s Almanac from Little, Brown & Company in 1939.

Carol Connare, who became the 14th editor-in-chief of the Old Farmer’s Almanac in 2023, said the Farmer’s Almanac, has “been a thorn in our side,” especially when it comes time for promotional appearances.

“All the media that we do … sometimes they’ll have both of us on,” Connare said.

In her “Note to Patrons” in the 2026 edition, Connare also alluded to the tough business climate for media publications: “Though we can accurately predict the weather (to about 80%) we can’t forecast how the cost of paper and distribution will rise and fall.”