In the early twentieth century, farmers were not able to turn on the local news after supper to catch up on the local weather forecasts. It was very difficult, if not impossible, to obtain any amount of numerical data. As a result, farmers relied a great deal on their instincts, and swore by the lore passed down from their ancestors.
When windows won’t open, and the salt clogs the shaker
The weather will favor the umbrella maker!
If clouds move against the wind, rain will follow.
Onion skins very thin, mild winter coming in.
Onion skins thick and tough, coming winter cold and rough.
The other source of weather and related information was the Farmers’ Almanac (not to be confused with the Old Farmers’ Almanac). Providing readers with everything from annual weather predictions and gardening tips to money management advice and home remedies, the book has been a staple in millions of households across the nation. Published every year since 1818, the Farmers’ Almanac has more than earned their tagline: “The Trusted Authority on Smart Living for Nearly 200 Years.”
The first edition of the Almanac was printed by Editor David Young and Publisher Jacob Mann in Morristown, NJ. Since then, the book has gone through a surprisingly low number of editors. Only seven people, one of which was the first woman almanac editor in U.S. history, have taken on the duties of editor. It is that level of consistency and stability that has endeared the Farmers’ Almanac to so many people.
Many people know the Farmers’ Almanac strictly for its weather predictions. What isn’t as well known, however, is the amount of information each volume provides on issues other than weather. For instance, the 2015 edition features articles on how to cut down on cat litter odors, five ingredients everyone should have in their medicine cabinet, ways to eat organic while on a budget, fall foliage tips, trivia facts, and healthier snack recipes. Despite its moniker, the Farmers’ Almanac truly has something for everyone, regardless of profession.
One of the most interesting features of the Farmers’ Almanac is the “Best Days” feature. According to Farmers’ Almanac tradition, when the moon is in the appropriate phase and place in the zodiac, it is widely believed that activities will be more fruitful or lead to improved results. For instance, “the period between the new and full moon (first and second quarters) is considered the best time to perform tasks that require strength, fertility, and growth; while the period between the full and new moon (third and fourth quarters) is best for harvesting, retarding growth, etc.” Do have particular plans or goals for the month of October? You may want to check the Almanac first. A sampling of the items addressed within “Best Days” includes:
October 9: Best day to mow to retard growth, dig post holes, jar jams/jellies, paint, advertise to sell, ask for a loan, slaughter
October 14: Best day to brew beer
October 15: Best day to get married
October 16: Best day to quit smoking, perform demolition, start a diet, entertain friends, or kill plant pests
Despite its wide variety of offerings, the Farmers’ Almanac will likely always be known for its weather content. Although the majority of farmers scoff at the credibility of the book’s predictions, it does have a few accurate forecasts to its name. Among the more famous prophecies are Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and Hurricane Carol in 1954. To most farmers, and certainly to trained meteorologists, however, the Almanac is nothing more than entertainment when it comes to forecasting the weather.
John Wheeler has been the face of WDAY weather since 1985. At that time, weather maps were drawn by hand and then photographed to appear on the weather report. “A lot has changed since then,” Wheeler said. The sophistication of computers and computer modeling as well as the emergence of Doppler radar has made the Farmers’ Almanac outdated as far as weather is concerned.
Wheeler is the first to admit that predicting the weather is a difficult profession. Even with today’s technological advances, the weather can be unpredictable, which makes the Almanac’s year-long weather forecasts that much more suspect. “We can’t forecast weeks and months in advance very well,” he said. “No one relies on a long-range forecast and no one is very good at writing it.”
Pete Hanebutt, director of public policy at the North Dakota Farm Bureau, is also familiar with the Farmers’ Almanac. Although he recognizes the book’s place in history, he is also skeptical about its validity and usability. “The Farmers’ Almanac is a whimsically entertaining publication that provides some historic reference even though farmers and ranchers of the modern era do not/would not use it to guide any substantive business or management decisions in their operations,” Hanebutt said. “It is a by-gone era, and just like in every other walk of life, the reference materials of that era are hardly applicable to modern agriculture.”
According to Hanebutt, the Farmer’s Almanac was a useful tool in the late 19th to early 20th century. “Prior to World War II and maybe more so prior to 1900, the Almanac did have some significance as a reference piece,” he explained. Times, however, have changed. “In the modern era, the Almanac certainly cannot predict world markets and world events that change market forces in our global economy. Today’s farmers and ranchers are extremely shrewd marketers who keep a very close eye on world events, politics, and emerging technologies in an effort to manage risk, budget frugally for the future, and plan for the long term.”
So what does the future of the Farmers’ Almanac look like? For a multitude of people, it is a source of information and entertainment. It may not predict the future as accurately as modern technology, but it can still be used as a tool. With a total annual distribution of more than 2.6 million copies and a readership of nearly 7 million, the publication doesn’t appear to be going anywhere in the near future.
