The Western Darling Downs region is characterized by grain dominated winter cropping, which is typically grown on moisture accumulated over a summer fallow. Grain sorghum is the preferred dryland summer grain crop, as it is hardier and more tolerant of dry weather than maize. Dryland and irrigated cotton is common, and crops such as millet, chickpea, and mungbean are important components of rotations with wheat and barley.

Two thirds of rainfall tends to occur over the summer months, with spring and summer rain generated by storm events with high intensity rain and high erosion potential. Rainfall can be unreliable and ineffective in more western regions, where high evaporative demand and heat stress in summer can also limit crop production. Cropping combined with sheep and cattle production is more common in this region.