Sunset Farm, 20 Brigham Lane, Amherst, MA (2026)

06/24/2026

Farm items
1. extend the white hooped cover at the zucchinis ,( row 26 or so) in the willow field. Extend it about 30' further south to include the cougar yellow summer squash..Hoops are stored outside next to the old chicken coop and the white cover is stuffed in a clear plastic bag in the open shed where the tractors are parked.
Rabbits , squirrels or woodchucks are removing the flowers and eating the 2" long baby squash.

2. Plant the tomatillo seedlings that are in the greenhouse , about 12" apart in row 61 where we already have set up their stakes. They grow like w**ds so I am not waiting for them to acclimate
and row 61 is shaded in the pm besides.

3. The big tiller made a rumble and big bang. Smoke from the gear box near the pto. After it cooled down it started up and worked a row as if nothing had happened, then it repeated.
I will get out our parts manual today ... in two weeks the farm could look like it was abandoned, unless we can fix it fast . We have to do do as well as we can using the discs and the farmall cultivator.

4. Cover flower rows with 6x6 including rows 73,74,75 in the small swimming pool field. Pound in all stakes . Don't leave any on the ground to get in the way of cultivating. Stopping and getting down from the tractor is avoided .. and rare.

5. We have sugar snaps : one row only , the uppermost row :which now has a large white sign . An animal with delicate small sharp teeth is eating them . He somtimes he pulls them down since he is leaving peas up at our eye level. Maybe a racoon? Info says: But I didn't know groundhogs can "pull".
Woodchuck (Groundhog) — Most Likely
Loves peas and bean plants.
Often grabs vines and pulls them down to reach more pods.
Can remove large amounts very quickly.
Footprints are often hard to see in dry soil, mulch, or grass.
Damage usually occurs from the bottom upward.
We will sell what we get, $5/ full pint. I have started a brown bag labelled sugar snap peas in the gray cooler ( temp 48 yesterday) Put what you pick in that bag.

6. To be seeded again directly in the field : beans, dill, cilantro, radish,basil other crops have been seeded in the greenhouse to plant about August 1. This is done because planting seeds in the field now means competing with w**ds even before the new seeds germinate.

7. Tonight ,we hope to reassemble the big flail mower , we are all set with parts and daylight.

8. Without our big tiller, we have to remove the w**ds along the plastic rows with a hoe or pull them out ,

9. we might have to cover the cukes in the past they have been eaten by animals. If we are lucky , we could have few cukes this weekend, since they are in bloom.
A concern: if covered ,how do they get pollinated... I will have to ask ...

Weather , unusually good , nice to see that NOAA NWS is hiring meteorologists. I don't know what the initials stand for: is it because I am old? Maybe it is the only way to get it funded, beyond his knowledge too.

News Headlines
Language Translations Of NWS Forecast & Warning Text Products
Map Of Storm Damage Reports For The Past 36 Hours
NOAA NWS Hiring Meteorologists (GS-5/7/9) Nationwide
Current conditions at
Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

A Few Clouds

62°F

17°C

Humidity 89%
Wind Speed Calm
Barometer 29.87 in (1011.8 mb)
Dewpoint 59°F (15°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Last update 24 Jun 6:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: Sunny, with a high near 82. Light northwest wind increasing to 8 to 13 mph in the morning.

High: 82 °F

Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 53 °F

Mostly Clear

Thursday

Thursday: A slight chance of showers between 3pm and 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

High: 83 °F

Partly Sunny
then Slight
Chance
Showers

Thursday Night

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Low around 60. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Low: 60 °F

Chance
Showers then
Showers

Friday

Friday: Showers, mainly before 9am. High near 82. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

High: 82 °F

Showers then
Chance
Showers

Friday Night

Friday Night: A slight chance of showers before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Light southwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Low: 60 °F

Slight Chance
Showers

Saturday

Saturday: A chance of showers before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

High: 83 °F

Chance
Showers

Saturday Night

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Calm wind.

Low: 60 °F

Partly Cloudy

Sunday

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 87. North wind 3 to 8 mph.

High: 87 °F

Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodaySunny, with a high near 82. Light northwest wind increasing to 8 to 13 mph in the morning.
TonightMostly clear, with a low around 53. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the evening.
ThursdayA slight chance of showers between 3pm and 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday NightShowers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2am. Low around 60. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
FridayShowers, mainly before 9am. High near 82. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday NightA slight chance of showers before 10pm, then a slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Light southwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
SaturdayA chance of showers before 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

--

821 am

Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

06/23/2026

Nice rain.... explosive w**d growth... bare land no more, all green now.

What am I waking up about:

1. W**d : the edges of the plastic rows....; play chicken with the black plastic and the big tiller. Rescue row 59 which was seeded thru the black plastic : okra . Rototill, hoe or pull w**ds along the plastic edges. W**ds rule if you don't have a manageable system...sounds like everything.
2. Direct seed another row of beans (in the 40's rows) and direct seed lettuce at the last 40' of that row ( it is shaded .. cool seed bed is the issue) . (lets see if we can manage that row with the farmall. I asked:
You can sow lettuce now, but success depends on keeping the seedbed cool and moist. Lettuce seed germinates poorly when soil temperatures get much above about 80°F.

A practical schedule would be:

Late June (now): Sow a short row if you can irrigate daily during germination and provide some shade (even floating row cover or shade cloth helps).
Mid-July (around July 15–20): Sow another row.
Early August (around August 1–10): Sow your main fall lettuce planting.
For your farm, I would make small successive sowings every 2 weeks from now through early August rather than one large sowing. That spreads the risk from hot weather.

A few tricks that work well:

Sow in the evening and water thoroughly.
Keep the seedbed continuously moist until emergence.
Plant a little deeper than spring sowings (about ¼–⅜ inch).
Use drip irrigation if possible.
Heat-tolerant leaf lettuces generally do better than crisphead types in summer.
3. Yesterday, Connie and I listened to the news in the greenhouse while seeding 2 #72 flats each of our Aquarius cauliflower and Imperial Broccoli for our fall crop. It had stopped raining by then otherwise the noise of rain on the greenhouse is too loud to hear anything else...( my bose noise cancelling device got ran over.. I now will get new hearing aids .. a process I don't look forward
to as I anticipate a sense of being hosed, by such nice people.)

4. Sharon worked in the rain and planted our scallion seedling plugs in row 61 ,just south of the tomatillo trellis. Approx 75 bunches. Thank you . That row is lined with potato w**ds; thank you for pulling them out!
The lesson : do not leave any potatoes or parts of potatoes in the field when harvesting ; they all come up next year.

5. The parts (in a 7" cardboard box cube) for our woodmaxx flail tiller arrived. Tomorrow after 4 pm we will install them. (A plan)

6. We still have about 10 heads of cauliflower in row 16 . They won't last till Saturday, cut your own and eat them now.

7. We have sugar snap peas in the upper row (easterly row only) pick them into brown paper bags ( find them in the white van ) Put the bags with large letters with a big felt marker SUGAR SNAPS ONLY. We have a steel drawer in the shed called "MARKERS" Pick them if they are as long as your pinky. Put them in the 45 degree gray cooler till Saturday's market. Do some every day we should have 25 lbs or so by then. The shelling peas will be next week. (Mr Big variety) Every one pick some for the cooler and some for you.

8. Our dill in row 28 or so is beautiful , we are growing a variety that is bushy and low. We will reseed dill today too in the 40's.

9. I will spray the eggplant again with our biologic spinosad brew, the potato bugs like eggplant even more than potatoes.

10. I bought a 50' heavy duty hose for the bouquet table area. Heavy duty because we will be driven over it a lot. The hose will be connected to a braced 4 hose brass manifold,,, the same one that we have in the greenhouse.

11. I will be bringing the left over w**d repellent fabric rolls to the red barn...I don't want the farm to look disorganized ..the take away ? : "looks matter."
IMG_6457.JPG this was two weeks ago. Those w**ds along the edge are almost knee high, now. The poles have been uprighted to support the pvc 6x6 grid that keep the flower stems straight .. and also make it harder to cut flowers if you want to cut three stems at a time. (can't)

Fog/Mist

63°F

17°C

Humidity 93%
Wind Speed N 5 mph
Barometer 29.84 in (1010.8 mb)
Dewpoint 61°F (16°C)
Visibility 4.00 mi
Last update 23 Jun 7:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: Showers likely, mainly before 9am. Patchy fog before 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 74. North wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

High: 74 °F

Showers
Likely and
Patchy Fog

Tonight

Tonight: Cloudy, then gradual clearing toward daybreak, with a low around 57. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph after midnight.

Low: 57 °F

Clearing Late

Wednesday

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

High: 78 °F

Sunny

Wednesday Night

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 55 °F

Mostly Clear

Thursday

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.

High: 78 °F

Mostly Sunny

Thursday Night

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Low: 62 °F

Showers
Likely

Friday

Friday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

High: 76 °F

Showers
Likely and
Patchy Fog

Friday Night

Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers between 8pm and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Low: 60 °F

Showers
Likely then
Chance
Showers

Saturday

Saturday: A chance of showers after 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

High: 78 °F

Chance
Showers

Detailed Forecast
TodayShowers likely, mainly before 9am. Patchy fog before 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 74. North wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
TonightCloudy, then gradual clearing toward daybreak, with a low around 57. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph after midnight.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 78. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 55. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
ThursdayMostly sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday NightA chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
FridayShowers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday NightShowers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers between 8pm and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

time now is 827am Tuesday

Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

06/22/2026

weather : perfect

Farm talk:

1. I filled a back pack sprayer with Capt Jack biological insecticide and took a golf cart to the Chestnut field and our 6 rows of potatoes, I squished and sprayed the occasional beetle : totally surprised that we had virtually none! I don't know why other than we have not planted potatoes in that field for 5 years . The plants are 24" high and are budded up to bloom maybe today. A week behind the big boys in Hadley. Our 7' aisles were perfectly cultivated by Jason on our 6' rototiller . Never have we done so well before.

2. So I carted to the eggplant rows ( about rows 57 and 58 I think in the deerfield) As in the past some were terribly eaten by lots beetles...so I sprayed and squished them This spray works if they eat leaves with it , it doesn't kill by contact.

3.We still have a dozen cauliflowers .row 16.. which are the best I've grown... or seen.. They lived with a white cover over them up to a week ago , the name is aquarius. We sold more than 60 heads. Now it is time to reseed two flats #72 each of our Imperial broccoli and aquarius cauliflower for our fall crop. We will set them out in August and completely cover them again.

4. The repair parts for our flail mower have not arrived yet, so no mowing can be done. Bob Cyr will come when we are able to put it back together.

5. Some aisles in the deerfield need their edges cleaned of 18" lambsquarters and other enemies .. This is a good match for Jason's skill with the old farmall.

6. I will order, this am, a starter motor and switch for the new farmall.... Jason sent me the link and I will push "buy". Do you think I will keep the old motor assembly? (no) I need fewer things to be hereafter ,not more.

7. Do plant the two flats of scallions next to the tomatillo stakes in row 62 . Plant them 3 across. Set them in holes made with a pointed tomato stake , never with a trowel , do not hit the drip tape that is under the plastic mulch

8. set flower row pvc netting we have a roll of 36".

9. set electric shock wires over the tops of all bean rows. We will be planting another bean row west of the seeded row in the willow field. : row about 40. So there will be two adjacent bean rows in the willow field

IMG_6496.JPG
IMG_6494.JPG the potatoes are just too good.
IMG_6487.JPG zukes are now covered: you can see the stems left by a very light footed and delicate rabbit or squirrel.... all ease would have left a tell.
Seeing that the leaves and stem are gone I think a leaf eater like a rabbit is the best guess. A wood chuck would have done other damage since they are fat.

Current conditions at
Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Fair

53°F

12°C

Humidity 92%
Wind Speed Calm
Barometer 30.01 in (1016.5 mb)
Dewpoint 51°F (11°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Last update 22 Jun 5:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

High: 77 °F

Mostly Cloudy
then Showers
Likely

Tonight

Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Low: 59 °F

Showers and
Patchy Fog

Tuesday

Tuesday: A chance of showers, mainly before 2pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming north in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

High: 80 °F

Chance
Showers and
Patchy Fog

Tuesday Night

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Low: 57 °F

Mostly Clear

Wednesday

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

High: 83 °F

Sunny

Wednesday Night

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 57. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 57 °F

Mostly Clear

Thursday

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

High: 85 °F

Mostly Sunny

Thursday Night

Thursday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Low: 60 °F

Showers
Likely

Friday

Friday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8am, then showers likely between 8am and 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

High: 82 °F

Showers
Likely

Detailed Forecast
TodayShowers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
TonightShowers and possibly a thunderstorm. Patchy fog. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
TuesdayA chance of showers, mainly before 2pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming north in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 57. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 57. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

--
Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

06/21/2026

News.

1. Our big seller at yesterday's farmers' Market was cauliflower and broccoli. just 6 fit in a lug..(an octave across) $5/ head at that size. Bad news : it's time to seed them now in the greenhouse for the fall crop: 78's. two flats each.

A few suggestions:
Cover immediately after transplanting.
Use lightweight row cover or insect netting.
Bury or weight down all edges.
Inspect seedlings before covering.
If eggs or worms are already present when you cover, you'll trap them inside.
Consider insect netting instead of spun row cover.
It lasts longer and provides better ventilation during July heat.
Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) sprays work very well on small caterpillars if worms get established.
Spray in the evening.
Reapply after heavy rain.
Watch for cabbage loopers and diamondback moths, not just the white butterflies. They can become a problem in late summer even when butterfly pressure seems low.
On your farm in Amherst, I've found that a July transplanting of broccoli and cauliflower often faces the heaviest butterfly pressure of the season, so row cover for the first month after transplanting can make a dramatic difference in the quality of the harvest.

Do you already have wire hoops and row cover, or have you been relying mainly on spraying?

2. Our sales were $1170 and that includes payment for four lugs of arrangements : was that market income? If it makes us feel better :yes. We had more product. Sales were $500 more than last year.

3. Under our row cover we found a 20' section of yellow beets : big 3"ers. Later we pulled a full lug of red beets that we had direct seeded in row 29 which were large ;however, cherry picked.

4. Finally we have lots of flowers too

5. On Friday we received 500 more miniature white shopping bags with twisted handles... to package peas for the market and which and are also made into signs for each item we sell . The twisted white handles make it easy to clip them to our lugs, table cloth , tent post . I ask folks to send me photos of farmers' markets when they travel: The signage, especially in Italy, sets the tone , very individual and consistent. A goal of our signage, too. Lennie Friedlande draws ours ( little white shopping bag) signs: each is a work of art. Save them for next week.

6. gotta do today: spray our potatoes and eggplant use capt jack with spinosad biological killer. spraying will be done in the evening so the sun doesn't break it down It is also time to bring the blue tractor to 24 s prospect st basement where the sprayer is stored ( all sprayers must be kept from freezing) and bring the sprayer to the farm.

7. continue to set the posts and 6x6 mesh over all flower rows.

8. W**d flowers

9. power wash the black lugs. you have to plug it in . I will bring a hose down that will be dedicated to the sprayer use.

10. Plant the scallion plugs in the last row #61 just south of the tomatillo stakes. Plant them three across. They are not eaten by the deer or rabbits so that is a great spot for them. Also seed two ore 72 size flats of scallions in the greenhouse :a pinch of seeds in each plug.

Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Fair

58°F

14°C

Humidity 79%
Wind Speed Calm
Barometer 29.80 in (1009.4 mb)
Dewpoint 51°F (11°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Last update 21 Jun 6:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind becoming northwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning.

High: 80 °F

Sunny

Tonight

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 55 °F

Partly Cloudy

Monday

Monday: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

High: 77 °F

Chance
Showers then
Showers
Likely

Monday Night

Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 58. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Low: 58 °F

Showers

Tuesday

Tuesday: Showers likely, mainly before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

High: 81 °F

Showers
Likely then
Slight Chance
Showers

Tuesday Night

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Low: 58 °F

Mostly Clear

Wednesday

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the morning.

High: 84 °F

Sunny

Wednesday Night

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Light west wind.

Low: 58 °F

Mostly Clear

Thursday

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

High: 86 °F

Mostly Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodaySunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind becoming northwest 8 to 13 mph in the morning.
TonightPartly cloudy, with a low around 55. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
MondayA chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday NightShowers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 58. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
TuesdayShowers likely, mainly before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 58. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the morning.
Wednesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 58. Light west wind.

now it is 811am--
Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

06/20/2026

Normal weather not too hot a little rain yesterday..not enough to flow around.

Farm Doings:

1. Farmers' market is underway Sharon McComick and I brought the produce and flowers to the Common earlier ( 430am ) today., we realized we didn't have red beets so we went back and picked a full lug of perfect beets, washed them and Sharon delivered them : I went back to bed. Before 5 the light in the center of town is always red if you are on Amity st and I always go thru it.
2. The new farmall won't start Jason will check it this afternoon.. might need new brushes etc or a new starter motor
3. I will carefully and thoroughly remove the hoops from the cauliflower row today. Hoops that are missed will break the big tiller for sure
4. once the hoops , coveer and sandbags are removed from that row we can run the w**dwacker up and down the edges to cut down the tall w**ds.
IMG_6492.JPG yellow beets did very well under cover at row 16.
IMG_6489.JPG pensive moment for Yvon

IMG_6488.JPG zukes are now covered , note that all the blooms have been eaten off that means no zukes unless ..

News Headlines
Language Translations Of NWS Forecast & Warning Text Products
Map Of Storm Damage Reports For The Past 36 Hours
NOAA NWS Hiring Meteorologists (GS-5/7/9) Nationwide
Current conditions at
Chicopee Falls / Westover Air Force Base (KCEF)
Lat: 42.2°NLon: 72.53°WElev: 246ft.

Overcast

66°F

19°C

Humidity 56%
Wind Speed W 15 mph
Barometer 29.63 in (1003.6 mb)
Dewpoint 50°F (10°C)
Visibility 10.00 mi
Last update 20 Jun 7:55 am EDT
More Information:

Local Forecast Office
More Local Wx
3 Day History
Hourly Weather Forecast

Extended Forecast for
Amherst MA
Today

Today: A slight chance of showers between 2pm and 3pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

High: 79 °F

Mostly Sunny
then Slight
Chance
T-storms

Tonight

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 56 °F

Mostly Clear

Sunday

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

High: 82 °F

Sunny

Sunday Night

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Light north wind.

Low: 55 °F

Partly Cloudy

Monday

Monday: Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. High near 74. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

High: 74 °F

Chance
Showers then
Showers

Monday Night

Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then showers likely. Low around 58. East wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Low: 58 °F

Showers

Tuesday

Tuesday: A chance of showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

High: 82 °F

Chance
Showers then
Mostly Sunny

Tuesday Night

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Low: 58 °F

Mostly Clear

Wednesday

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.

High: 84 °F

Sunny

Detailed Forecast
TodayA slight chance of showers between 2pm and 3pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
TonightMostly clear, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm in the evening.
SundaySunny, with a high near 82. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 55. Light north wind.
MondayShowers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. High near 74. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Monday NightShowers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then showers likely. Low around 58. East wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
TuesdayA chance of showers before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Northwest wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday NightMostly clear, with a low around 58. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.

--
Bill Gillen
Sunset Farm : 20 Brigham Lane , Amherst , Ma 01002
413-374-5193 bill's cell

Sunset Farm

06/24/2026

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