Piney Woods Ranching? (Tyler, Lufkin, Nacogdoches: live, gardens, rich)

[bman15470]

Is there much ranching in the Piney Woods Region? (think Tyler area) What counties in that region would offer acceptable conditions for ranching? What counties in that region have the greatest timber industry?
I see on CD that Tyler area gets about 45" inches rain anually, does it come down in heavy storms or do you get weeks of cloudy wet weather in fall and winter? does the ground get saturated with water in those months or can it be worked all year (think tractors, horses, cows) Trying to get a comparison to Oregons central willamette Valley (Salem Area)
Thnx bman

[Poltracker]

Tyler is really on the transition between the Piney woods to the east/southeast and the prairie region to the west. Ranching is good and timber is ok but you will find the more timber rich counties to the east and southeast (i.e. Angelina, Polk, San Jacinto, etc.) toward Lufkin and Nacogdoches and beyond. Haven't lived in Tyler but we had fabulous gardens in Marshall and several types of grasses grow quite well i.e. coastal bermuda, bahia, etc. if you want to keep livestock. Tyler is also on the southern edge of the poultry mass farm region, if you lean that way.

[EasilyAmused]

Cherokee County,to the south of Tyler,has lot's of ranching,produce and timber.

Millipeds too

[Mark Senior]

Actually it seems, that in each direction from Tyler proper, you have each or all of what you speak, to a greater or lesser degree as explained in the above posts. Never thought of it that way, but yep, seems to be the case. Rain doesn't come all at once, except in thunderstorms, yet, steady day or two of light to moderate rains in fall and winter, so again, just a mix. I don't know if that helps. lol

[bman15470]

Thanks. Now about the ground condition in winter, does it get sloppy and stay that way or does it dry out in between weatherfronts? Millipeds? how big, how pesky and do they sting?

[Poltracker]

It generally dries out, but it depends on where it is located. Some swamp bottoms along creeks never dry out.