Pastures are used mainly for beef production, but in some places dairying is an important industry. The woodland is about 75 to 80 percent privately owned, and about 20 to 25 percent is owned by industry. This is not a very productive woodland area. Controlling soil erosion and infestation of Johnsongrass on soils that are cultivated are major concerns of management. Some of the more prominent valley floors are less than 25 m, and a few ridgetops exceed 100 m. Valley floors, side slopes, and ridgetops are underlain by clay, marl, and chalk.
Local relief is mainly a few meters.
Average annual precipitation -1,225 to 1,425 mm. Ponds provide water for livestock, and locally they are used for recreation. A few large reservoirs are available for recreation and other uses. The dominant soils are Ochrepts and Udalfs. They are fine textured and have a thermic temperature regime, an udic moisture regime, and montmorillonitic or carbonatic mineralogy.