Nearly one-fifth of the area, consisting mainly of the deeper soils in valleys and on some of the uplands, is cropland.
Some winter wheat is grown as a cash crop.
Other small grains, grain sorghum, alfalfa, and other hay are the major crops. These crops are also grown on small irrigated areas along the Arkansas River. These dissected limestone and shale uplands have narrow divides and narrow steep-sided valleys. Only a few large streams have a significant area of flood plain. Local relief is commonly in meters or tens of meters.