By any standards 2020 was an annus horribilis.  Without recounting the tribulations of the past twelve months, we could rather turn to an anticipation of 2021.  Our wish list includes the most desired changes from 2020:

• Uppermost will be control of COVID-19.  We now have two mRNA vaccines available and we trust that the acceptance of these vaccines and their deployment will be rapid, free of complications and above all effective.  Concurrently we anticipate compliance by our population in public health measures extending through summer that will be necessary until an acceptable level of immunity is attained in our population.
• A restoration of the economy is anticipated.  We have incurred a high level of public sector and private debt as a result of COVID. Our economy has, with the rest of the World, been seriously impacted.  We earnestly hope that sound fiscal management will prevail to restore the previous way of life we enjoyed before the advent of COVID-19.  Restoration of the economy accompanied by relaxation of COVID restrictions should alleviate hunger and misfortune among so many of our fellow citizens. Teaching through K-12 and university instruction will resume, although it is recognized that disruption in 2020 will have placed many of our students behind their anticipated development levels, requiring remediation.
• We look forward to a smooth transition between the outgoing and the incoming Administrations with continuation of programs that were beneficial and support for American traditions.  Extremism from both the right and left must be discouraged and complete acceptance of the integrity of our Constitution must be maintained. 
• We hope that extremes of weather, related to climate change will be less evident in 2021.  With the anticipation of the decline in La Nina that has apparently peaked, we hope to have fewer hurricanes and more even distribution of rainfall, preventing both flooding and drought.  The epidemic of fires west of the Rockies should hopefully abate, allowing restoration of the ecology of seven states.
• We look forward to better relations with our allies and respect from our adversaries.  Restoration of our participation in international bodies, such as the WHO and improved interaction in the WTO and multinational trade agreements will benefit both our industrial and agricultural sectors.
• It is hoped that catastrophic livestock diseases, including avian influenza, African swine fever, and foot and mouth disease, will spare our herds and flocks despite their prevalence in other nations.
• We wish our row-crop farmers bountiful harvests. This should restore income, since farmers were dependent on government programs for 40 percent of revenue in 2020. Higher yields will lead to lower ingredient prices that spiked during the last quarter of 2020 and are still rising.
• We wish our elected representatives and senators at the national level, and our state and local legislators, wisdom, objectivity, and freedom from the strictures of parochialism in their deliberations and decisions.  We hope for a new spirit of bipartisanship and cooperation rejecting the coercion and divisiveness that were apparent in 2020.

With restoration of our economy following control of COVID, we can look forward to improved purchasing power of our consumers and more favorable production margins.  We hope to release the inherent creativity and productivity of the U.S. poultry industry for the mutual benefit of our companies, their workers, and our consumers.

As I dictate an editorial on Christmas Day in 2021, I look forward to reflecting with you on an annus mirabilis, encompassing our current hopes and aspirations.

Barbara and I extend to you, your families, and colleagues

our warmest wishes for health and prosperity in the coming year.