About one-tenth of the area, the steeper valley slopes and some of the wet bottom land, is woodland. The acreage of woodland in Kansas is considerably less than that in Missouri and in Oklahoma. The northern part has a thin mantle of loess. Even though the area is thoroughly dissected, local relief is in meters, and large valleys are about 25 m below the adjacent uplands. Average annual precipitation - 900 to 1,050 mm.
Maximum precipitation is from late in spring through autumn.
Annual snowfall ranges from about 12 cm in the south to 45 cm in the north. In many years the moderate precipitation is adequate for crops and pasture, but in some years summer droughts reduce crop yields. In much of the area, shallow wells are the principal source of water for domestic use and for livestock, but small ponds and reservoirs on individual farms are increasingly important sources of water for livestock. Deep wells, especially in limestone areas, also provide water. Most of the soils are Aqualfs and Udolls.