areas with historical mean annual rainfall sums below 850 mm already slight increases in dryness result in significantly lower crop yields i.e. depending on the drought severity, between 0.6% and 0.9% decreases in mean annual dry matter crop yields per 1.0% decrease in mean annual rainfall sums. The EPIC results of more severe droughts showed spring rainfall and summer rainfall may become a limiting factor in crop production even in regions with historical abundant rainfall.