One Of Minnesota’s Go-To Forecast Publications, The Farmer’s Almanac, Shutting Down

One of the longest-running weather forecast publications in the United States just announced it is shutting down.

Whether or not you personally trust what their forecasts have to say, The Farmer's Almanac is regularly cited by Minnesotans during those obligatory weather conversations we tend to have - especially when talking about the upcoming winter season each year.

I don't personally put a ton of weight into their forecasts, but a lot of people do. There's a reason The Farmer's Almanac has been around since 1818.

When it was announced that the publication would be shutting down after a 208-year run, a lot of people apparently had a brief moment of mild panic after using the resource.

There was maybe also a little confusion.

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There are, as you might know, two Farmer's Almanacs. There is "The Farmer's Almanac", and "The Old Farmer's Almanac". I know, it's confusing. Both publications basically do the same things.

READ MORE: What Are The Snowiest Cities In Minnesota?

In reaction to the confusion, the Minnesota State Climate Office posted a reminder that "The Old Farmer's Almanac" (the one with the yellow cover) is still being published. In addition, the team with The Old Farmer's Almanac shared a social media post to make clear that they're still sticking around to try to cut down on the confusion.

So, what's the difference between the two?

The Farmer's Almanac (the one shutting down) started in 1818, offering long-range weather predictions, "valuable articles on ways to make living off the land more productive and successful", and other "wit, wisdom, and weather" information.

The Farmer's Almanac uses "a secret formula" since it started that uses a variety of factors like sunspot cycles, tidal forces, lunar cycles, and the position of the planets to come up with a forecast that looks two years into the future.

READ MORE: What Is ACTUALLY Minnesota's Snowiest Month? (Hint: It Isn't March)

Aside from their long-running print publication, they have also offered online content via their website. Access to digital content will end in December of 2025, and the final print edition of The Farmer's Almanac will be made available in stores and via Amazon for the 2026 season.

The Old Farmer's Almanac (the one that isn't shutting down) started in 1792, branding itself as "the original" in this space between the two. They offer planting charts/calendars, recipes, moon & sunrise times, tides, and (of course) weather forecasts.

Similar to the other publication, The Old Farmer's Almanac uses a "unique, age-old formula" to develop its forecasts. They cite things like sunspots and solar activity playing a major role in forecasting. The publication says the formula has been refined over the years to use modern science and technology.

How accurate are these forecasts?

Well...both publications boast an 80% or greater accuracy rate with their weather forecasts, though analysis from meteorologists around the country has found the accuracy of both to be less than that, in some cases as low as 50-50 odds, which is basically a coin-flip of whether it will be cold or warm, if there will be lots of snow or not.

Not exactly high-accuracy. To be fair, long-range forecasts from other outlets like TV meteorologists and the National Weather Service can be wildly inaccurate the further into the future they look.

No matter what, long-range forecasts are at best an educated guess. I guess it all just comes down to who you trust most with your educated guess.