Natural vegetation is pine-oak forest. Loblolly pine and upland oaks occur on uplands, and water tupelo, sweetgum, oaks, and swamp blackgum occur in the lowlands. Much of the original timber has been harvested and pine plantations have been established. Various grasses and forbs adopted to poorly drained soils provide understory. Most of the forest holdings are large, being owned by companies such as Weyerhauser.
Pulpwood is the main product, but lumber and naval stores are also harvested.
Cropping intensity is greater in the northern section than in the south. Cultivated fields tend to be large with the main agronomic crops being corn, soybeans, and wheat. Small fields of vegetables such as potato and special niche vegetable crops are also grown. Some poultry, but little livestock is grown. This area has an udic moisture regime with average annual precipitation ranging from 1025 to 1400 mm.