It's an iconic book that's printed each year, and a reading tradition in Saskatchewan.

The Old Farmer's Almanac 2020 was released yesterday, providing some explanation of what winter will look like this year and as always, provides so much more.

Jack Burnett, managing editor for the Alamanac, said they're predicting a slightly warmer winter overall, but that we will get a lot of snow across the country.

'We're looking for a winter that's not quite so cold as usual, for the Moose Jaw area," Burnett said. "That's not to say it's going to be warm by any stretch of the imagination, because it's Moose Jaw. But ever so slightly warmer than normal. On the other hand, it's going to be snowy. We're calling it, across Canada, 'Game of Snows,' because there are between eight and 11 major snowstorms coming through."  

The Almanac is the oldest published periodical in North America and was started up near Boston in 1792. A Canadian edition was made available beginning in 1982. 

The writers have traditionally used meteorology, climatology, solar and radiation science to determine how the next year will play out. However since the Almanac was first made available in the early 1790's, the methods have changed greatly. 

Burnett said writers are even now accounting for variances due to climate change, thanks to new technology and scientific research. 

"About four years ago, we decided to look into whether we should change or tweak our ancient formula to take climate change into account. Our head meteorologist took a study, a three year study and we're in the third year now, to see once the computers print out the forecasts all over North America, if we could adjust them in various ways... We're doing that, and we've made some minor adjustments."

Burnett said that although the Almanac is commonly thought of as a weather-predicting periodical, the majority of what gets published has to do with food, gardening, astronomy, history, humour, folklore, home remedies, and "just about everything you can imagine."

"It's a compendium of many different things," said Burnett. "Only about ten per cent of it is weather-related."

Burnett said the Almanac's largest supporter in Canada is Saskatchewan, due in large part to the apparent traditional following of the Almanac from generation to generations. 

The Almanac wouldn't be published without your support and contribution. That's why the folks at the Old Farmer's Almanac always take the time to get back to anyone who sends in an enquiry or information at any time of you. 

"So we have all these things, everything under the sun, and people say where do you get these things. And the answer is we get them from the people of Canada. When they call up the Almanac, we actually have people here who answer the phone and talk with them. When they send us a letter in the mail, they get a letter back. When they send us an email, they get an answer back." 

You can find the Old Farmer's Almanac available for purchase at most Canadian Tire retailers, as well as a few other stores throughout the province, or by visiting www.farmersalmanac.com.