It would be an interesting article. I live in a state that is one of the main producers of the corn you are talking about. I see year to year how they harvest and they still do the same as always.

If you watch the combine it shots everything but the corn out the back into a spreader that, well spreads the remains about the ground.

Then they use special tillers that help to prevent soil erosion. This also pushes some of the spread into the soil.

Then after winter is over they till the land for planting.

I talk to lots of farmers due to the fact that some are my friends and some I want to hunt on the land they own. But I would like to see the article you are talking about, and my farmer friends would be interested also.