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The Old Farmer's Almanac
National Edition

Old Farmer’s Almanac Predicts Record-Setting Temperatures in 2008

New Edition of Venerable Publication Set for September Release

Brace yourself: The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting that 2008 will be the warmest year of the past century.

This news comes from The 2008 Old Farmer’s Almanac, available on September 12, 2007. Best known for its 80 percent–accurate weather forecasts, The Old Farmer’s Almanac is North America’s oldest continuously published annual periodical. It can be found for just $5.99 wherever books and magazines are sold.

How warm will it be?
“Very warm, overall,” says John Pierce, publisher of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. “Think of it this way: 2006 was the second-warmest year on record in the contiguous United States, at 54.9 degrees Fahrenheit, on average. 1998 was the warmest ever, by 0.1 degrees, at 55 degrees, on average. The past nine years have been among the 25 warmest years, and, based on our study of solar activity and cycles, we expect the warming trend to continue.”

(In case you didn’t know, The Old Farmer’s Almanac correctly predicted the record-breaking temperatures of 1998, too.)

If 2008 breaks records weatherwise, it could become one in a curious series of extreme weather years dating from the mid-1700s. “Crazy 8s,” a feature article in the Almanac, traces hurricanes, tornadoes, heat waves, droughts, and other anomalies that have occurred in years ending in 8. “The big storms and weather events that happen in years ending in ‘8’ may be coincidences, or they could be indicative of large, cyclical, weather patterns,” says Pierce. “In either case, we could be in for some historic meteorological mayhem.”

In addition to its weather forecasts and related stories, The 2008 Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts what’s going to be fashionable in the coming year. According to the Almanac’s team of style soothsayers, Americans will continue the trend of eco-friendly home construction, women’s fashion will be big and bold, and teddy bears from the era of their namesake (hint: a president) will make a splash among collectors.

Fans of The Old Farmer’s Almanac have come to expect advice and insights from the handy annual, including some they didn’t know they needed. The 2008 edition doesn’t disappoint. Here’s a sample of the stories inside:

ANNIVERSARY
“And the Winner Is . . .” (page 162): Winners and the judges of some of the world’s quirkiest contests reveal the secrets of success: Just how stinky do sneakers have to be to win the International Rotten Sneaker Contest? What’s really punny at the O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships? What is the trophy-taking stance of a watermelon seed spitter or the prizewinning pose of a champion chicken clucker? Answers to those questions and more are in the Almanac.

FOOD
“Country Cookin’ Straight From the Farm” (page 68): Six farm families answer the editor’s call for the recipes that get raves at family reunions and community suppers, with squash rolls, cream of mushroom soup, tangy cole slaw, beef jerky, and more. No fancy food here, just good home cooking.

GARDENING
“Cultivating Confections” (page 56): Flowers’ fragrances can be delightful—but delicious? Yes, if the plants are those that give off scents like cherry pie and vanilla (heliotrope), bittersweet chocolate (chocolate cosmos), and cloves and nutmeg (dame’s rocket). The Almanac tells what plants bring bakery and candy-shop aromas into the garden.

SPORTS
“Johnny Vander Who?” (page 222): Often missing on a list of baseball’s pitching greats is a Cincinnati Reds hurler who, 70 years ago, set a record that has yet to be broken. Find out about Johnny Vander Meer’s struggle to achieve Major League success and the sweet feat that landed him in the record books.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is also proud to announce Volume 2 of its best-selling Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids. Created for young people ages 8 and up, this newest edition features wacky and fascinating (not to mention educational) facts, stories, and projects that will keep kids occupied for hours. It is available for $9.95 at most major booksellers and through its companion Web site, Almanac4kids.com.*

* Did you know? Almanac4kids.com content is updated weekly and always offers a free Activity Guide that corresponds to The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids, Volume 2.

The Old Farmer’s Almanac is produced by Yankee Publishing Inc. of Dublin, New Hampshire. The Almanac product line also includes themed calendars for 2008: Gardening, Country, and Weather Watcher’s (for wall display); Every Day (in the page-per-day format); and a hardcover Engagement calendar with concealed Wire-O binding. Created for cooks (and anyone who likes to eat) are the Blue Ribbon Recipes and Best Home Baking cookbooks, featuring award-winning recipes from state and country fairs.

The 2008 Old Farmer’s Almanac is available wherever books and magazines are sold. Folks who can’t find it in drugand bookstores, supermarkets, hardware stores, or garden centers can order individual copies or subscriptions at Almanac.com** or by calling 800-ALMANAC.

** Did you know? Almanac.com is loaded with even more recipes, trivia, and advice than the Almanac. Try the home-page personalization option, the podcasts, and the newsletter.

The Old Farmer's Almanac, 1121 Main St., Dublin, NH 03444