A move is afoot to get hay from the Prairies to drought-stricken parts of Ontario and Quebec.

The HayEast 2012 program consists of farm groups from Alberta and Saskatchewan working with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Mennonite Disaster Services and the Quebec Farmers' Association.

Mark Wales, president of the Ontario federation, says there is a pressing need and farmers in Alberta and Saskatchewan are offering to help.

But he says the program also requires the support of the federal and provincial governments, the railways, corporate partners and other stakeholders.