Farmers Guardian is a weekly newspaper

Newspaper

A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...

 aimed at the British farming industry. It provides comprehensive and topical news with Livestock

Livestock

Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...

, Arable

Agronomy

Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...

 and Machinery sections; as well as business information and latest market prices. It is sold nationally and publishes on a Friday. Based in Preston, Lancashire, it is currently owned by United Business Media

United Business Media

UBM plc is a magazine publisher, news distributor and events organiser providing business information services principally to the technology, healthcare, media, automotive and financial services industries...

.

Related products in the UBM stable include: Dairy Farmer, Dairy Vet and the website farmersguardian.com. The website was launched in May 2005, and includes sections on news

News

News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...

, arable

Agronomy

Agronomy is the science and technology of producing and using plants for food, fuel, feed, fiber, and reclamation. Agronomy encompasses work in the areas of plant genetics, plant physiology, meteorology, and soil science. Agronomy is the application of a combination of sciences like biology,...

, livestock

Livestock

Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...

, machinery, equestrianism

Equestrianism

Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...

, reader offers and all classified adverts from the paper.

History

The newspaper started life, on 10 February 1844, priced 4½d, as the Preston Guardian, and was founded by Joseph Livesey

Joseph Livesey

Joseph William Livesey was an English temperance campaigner, social reformer, local politician, writer, publisher, newspaper proprietor and philanthropist.-Early life:...

, the "father" of the total abstinence movement

Temperance movement

A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...

 in Britain to support the campaign for the repeal

Repeal

A repeal is the amendment, removal or reversal of a law. This is generally done when a law is no longer effective, or it is shown that a law is having far more negative consequences than were originally envisioned....

 of the Corn Laws

Corn Laws

The Corn Laws were trade barriers designed to protect cereal producers in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland against competition from less expensive foreign imports between 1815 and 1846. The barriers were introduced by the Importation Act 1815 and repealed by the Importation Act 1846...

. He was assisted by his sons: William, as sub-editor and manager of the business department (until forced to retire by ill health); John, who came in as editor at the age of 21; and younger sons Franklin and Howard. Livesey Snr. was, however, the overall superintendent and wrote the leaders for local news items.

The success of the newspaper can be attested by a remark of Richard Cobden

Richard Cobden

Richard Cobden was a British manufacturer and Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with John Bright in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League as well as with the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty...

: "I never remember a case of a local newspaper succeeding as this has done in so short a time and subject to the same competition". The paper lasted for 15 years under the Livesey's management, until 1859. By then it had become a valuable commodity and was sold to local businessman and fellow teetotaller, George Toulmin

George Toulmin

Sir George Toulmin was an English journalist, newspaper proprietor and Liberal Party politician.-Family and education:...

 (1857–1923), who owned the paper until 1883. Thomas Wemyss Reid

Thomas Wemyss Reid

Sir Thomas Wemyss Reid was a British newspaper editor, novelist and biographer.-Career:He became chief reporter on the Newcastle Journal aged 19...

was an editor from 1864-1866.

In 1872, a new office building was completed in Fishergate, Preston, and the paper moved into the ground floor (the building was demolished in 1989). The paper lasted under its original name until October 1964 and then continued to the present day as the "Farmers Guardian".