Recently, livestock farming has increased. Pastures are used mostly for beef cattle, but some dairy cattle and hogs are raised. Controlling soil erosion and improving drainage on low wetland areas are major concerns of management. The area is strongly dissected into nearly level and gently undulating valleys and gently sloping to steep uplands that are underlain by unconsolidated sand, silt, and clay. Stream valleys generally are narrow in their upper reaches but become broad and have widely meandering stream channels as they approach the coast.
Minimum precipitation is in autumn throughout the area.
In the east maximum precipitation is in midsummer, and in the west it is in winter and in spring. Average annual temperature -16 to 20 C, increasing from north to south. Domestic water supplies are obtained mainly from shallow wells and water for livestock from perennial streams and small farm ponds. In most places, one or more aquifers provide ample ground water for municipal and industrial uses. The many perennial streams have the potential for supplying water for municipal use, human consumption, and farming but have been little used for these purposes.