Today’s quick hits, Feb. 27, 2024

Trump did best in rural South Carolina: The former president got 69 percent of the vote in rural South Carolina for his largest margin of victory over former governor Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential primary; the vote was split in cities and suburbs. (Daily Yonder)

Corn is king: The most widely planted U.S. crop, corn, was worth $73.9 billion last year, more than any other. But California, dominant in specialty crops, was the No. 1 farm state for value of production in 2022; the 2023 data are still being compiled. (USDA)

Vilsack testimony time: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s testimony before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET, said committee leaders; the hearing date was announced days before the time was set. (Senate Agriculture)

Biden to hit food prices: President Biden, who has blasted shrinkflation, “is weighing how hard to hit food companies” for high grocery prices in the State of the Union speech on March 7, said two unnamed White House officials. (Politico)

Eggs and R.F. waves: USDA scientists say Radio Frequency technology, using low-energy waves, can kill salmonella bacteria inside eggs in half the time it would take to pasteurize eggs in hot water. (Agricultural Research Service)