 At first, however, the national launch placed the serial at the 'terrible' time of 11.45 am, but it moved to Dick Barton's former slot of 6.45 pm from Monday, 2 April 1951.An omnibus edition of the week's episodes began on Saturday, 5 January 1952.Originally produced with collaborative input from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, "The Archers" was conceived as a means of disseminating information to farmers and smallholders to help increase productivity in the Postwar era of rationing and food shortages.