Bottomlands are typically brown to gray, calcareous silt loams to clayey alluvial soils. Continued grazing and cessation of fires altered the vegetation to such a degree that the region is now commonly called the Texas Brush Country. Pricklypear is characteristic throughout most of the area. Range is the major land use, but irrigated and dryland cropping of cotton, sorghum, flax, small grains, and forages are also important. Citrus, vegetables, and sugarcane do well in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Many acres are in large landholdings, such as the King Ranch.
Livestock production is primarily cow-calf range operations, and wildlife production for hunting and recreational use are becoming increasingly important. The South Texas Plains vegetational area is known nationwide for its large white-tailed deer. Stocker operations and feedlot operations are intermixed with cow-calf operations. Sheep and goat enterprises, once common throughout the area, are now confined mostly to the northern part because of coyote predation. Integrated use of range, crops, and forages is increasing as is vegetable and peanut production where irrigation is possible.