Eggs to see restaurant menu growth in 2013

The restaurant breakfast category can expect to see positive growth in 2013, with quick service restaurants continuing to lead the way, according to a trends report compiled by the American Egg Board and NPD Group.
Quick service restaurants have increased their share of breakfast overall over the past five years by 8 percent, and quick service restaurant egg breakfast menu items have increased by 20 percent, according to the report. Today almost 85 percent of all breakfasts eaten away from home are consumed at quick service restaurants, and that means that much of the breakfast innovation that is driving consumer eating habits is bubbling up from quick service restaurants. Families are also starting to use these places as family sit-down restaurants, so expect to see more platters, bowls and skillet dishes rising to the top of their menus, said the report.
As the quick service restaurant breakfast boom continues, expect more chains to add fried egg creations to keep customers satisfied with new and innovative breakfast menu items. Fried egg menu items increased 20 percent in 2012 at chains like Dunkin' Donuts, according to the report. Whether at quick service restaurants or casual dining restaurants, plan to see upgraded quality and ingredients paired with eggs like avocados, mushrooms, flavored sausages and upscale cheeses, as well as upgraded preparation techniques like toasted breads and frying eggs.
Food truck menu offerings with eggs will be on the rise as more and more food trucks focus on breakfast as a way to break into the category without competing in the saturated lunch day part. From egg sandwiches on brioche and flatbreads to meat proteins like pork belly and pulled pork being paired with eggs, to crepes, indulgent pancakes (red velvet, maple bacon) and donuts, consumers love the culinary exploration, and so do restaurant chains, who often get their inspiration from these trucks, according to the American Egg Board's report.
Finally, while innovative egg preparations are taking over restaurants, the Board and NPD Group said they predict Americans are going to keep things simple at home when it comes to preparing eggs in 2013. According to Google Trends, hard-boiled eggs, deviled eggs and scrambled eggs are still among the top-searched egg recipes on Google.

South Africa corn planting estimated up 1.3 percent

South Africa is expected to plant 1.3 percent more corn in the current season, according to reports, sowing 2.74 million hectares — 1.6 million hectares of white corn and 1.14 million hectares of yellow corn.
These numbers compare to 2.69 million hectares of corn planted in the previous season. “This is because of better prices and crop-rotation practices by farmers,” said Marda Scheepers, spokeswoman for the South Africa Crop Estimates Committee. White corn is a staple food in the country, while yellow corn is used mostly as animal feed.

Brazil corn outlook drops on delayed soybean sowing

Brazil's second corn crop will be lower than expected in the state of Mato Grosso after soybean sowing was delayed, according to researcher Instituto Mato-Grossense de Economia Agropecuaria.
The delay was caused by a lack of rain, and soybeans had to be replanted in some municipalities. Farmers in Mato Grosso will seed 2.79 million hectares with corn, less than the 2.92 million hectares expected in October, according to reports. The yield forecast for corn is 4.8 metric tons per hectare, and Mato Grosso's crop is expected to be 13.3 million tons in 2012–2013.

FDA allows ionizing radiation of meat, poultry products

The Food and Drug Administration has amended the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of ionizing radiation on meat and poultry products, according to final rules released in the Federal Register.
The first final rule provides for the use of a 4.5 kilogray (kGy) maximum absorbed dose of ionizing radiation to treat unrefrigerated and refrigerated uncooked meat, meat byproducts and certain meat food products to reduce levels of foodborne pathogens and extend shelf life. The second final rule amends the food additive regulations to increase the maximum dose of ionizing radiation permitted in the treatment of poultry products, to include specific language intended to clarify the poultry products covered by the regulations, and to remove the limitation that any packaging used during irradiation of poultry shall not exclude oxygen.
Both rules go into effect on November 30.

UK broiler chicks, slaughterings up in October

UK broiler chick placings were 3.1 percent higher than October 2011, at 90 million birds, and UK turkey placings were 6 percent higher, at 1.3 million birds, according to the latest report from the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs.
UK broiler slaughterings were 2.5 percent higher than October 2011, at 86 million birds, while turkey slaughterings were 8.4 percent higher at 2.4 million birds. Broiler eggs set were also up over October 2011 numbers, at 106 million eggs compared to 102 million eggs. Turkey eggs remained steady at 1.8 million set, according to the report.

Overall poultry meat production was 163 thousand metric tons, the same as October 2011, according to the report.

Chuying Farming invests in 200,000-ton-per-year meat processing plant

Chuying Farming has announced that it plans to invest RMB 177 million in building a 200,000-ton-per-year output meat processing plant in Weishi County in Henan Province, China. The primary products will include both warmed and frozen ham sausage and Chinese-style sauces, according to the company.
The company projects that the sales income of the above-mentioned products will be around RMB 880 million after the plant is finished. After calculating taxes, the annual profit will be around RMB 41 million. Using these rates, it will take 4.1 years for the company to recover its investments in profits, counting a construction time of one year.
Chuying Farming has said that the construction of this project supports Weishi County’s 1-million-head-per-year pig slaughtering project, and part of the additional products from the plant will be consumed locally, so as to save on transportation costs. It will simultaneously integrate the production scale and ensure meat safety. After the project is completed, it will improve Chuying’s industry chain, optimize the company’s production composition and improve the company’s sustainable development, according to Chuying.

US agriculture exports to reach record $145 billion in 2013

Fiscal 2013 U.S. agricultural exports are forecast at a record $145 billion, up $1.5 billion from the August forecast and $9.2 billion above fiscal 2012 exports, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's latest report.
The forecast for poultry, livestock and dairy is down $100 million on lower poultry, beef, and cattle exports. Grain and feed exports are forecast down $1.9 billion, mostly due to lower corn exports. Oilseed exports are up $3.3 billion on much higher volumes and record prices, while cotton exports are forecast down $200 million in part due to reduced Chinese demand. Horticultural exports are unchanged at a record $32 billion.
U.S. imports are also projected to hit records, at $115 billion in fiscal 2013, up 11 percent from 2012’s imports of $103.4 billion but down $2 billion from the August forecast for 2013. The reduced forecast for 2013 is largely due to significantly lower prices for tropical oils, processed fruits and vegetables, sugar, coffee, rubber and cocoa, according to the USDA.

Poultry, livestock, dairy
The fiscal 2013 export forecast for poultry, livestock and dairy is lowered $100 million to $29.8 billion, with losses in poultry, beef, and cattle outweighing gains. Despite higher broiler meat exports, poultry exports are forecast down $100 million to $6.1 billion, due to lower unit values and volumes for turkey meat and poultry offals. Beef exports are forecast at $4.8 billion, down $150 million as marginally higher prices do not offset slightly lower volumes. Tight supplies on lower U.S. production constrain shipments despite strong global demand. Exports of dairy products are forecast higher by 4 percent to $5 billion as stronger international prices are expected to offset lower volume sales, particularly of cheese, skim milk powder, and butterfat, said the USDA report.
Although reduced $100 million from August, the beef import forecast for 2013 shows a 13-percent gain in import value over 2012 as domestic beef supplies tighten and demand for processing-type beef remains strong. Fewer cattle imports are expected in 2013 as cattle inventories in Mexico are lower and herds are rebuilt in Canada. However, the forecast is unchanged from August. The pork import estimate for 2013 is lowered $30 million from the August forecast to $1.3 billion because of relatively tight exportable supplies in Canada, the top U.S. supplier. Similarly, expected swine imports are trimmed by $24 million.