After last year's drought, many livestock producers were left with a dilemma - figuring out how they were going to get their hands on enough feed to last the winter.

Hay producers had an awful year with that drought, and any producer who made their own feed didn't have enough to share with others.

Luckily producers from eastern provinces stepped up with the Haywest program, which sent over their excess to the farmers in the prairies.

Ike Epp, who's the vice-chair for the Mennonite Disaster Service which ran the program with its Ontario counterpart, says that they did well, depending on what you call a success.

"I guess it depends by what criteria you judge it. We certainly didn't fulfill all the need that existed, and we were aware that that was not possible, but we thought that we would attempt to do as much as we could. Making use of the excess hay in Ontario and transporting it to Saskatchewan."

The support from the eastern provinces came from them wanting to repay an earlier program.

That was Hayeast, which provided feed to eastern provinces after a drought in 2012.

"They were quite pleased to share their excess hay stocks. They had an excellent growing season there this past year, and found themselves with more hay than they needed or could use in their existing markets," said Epp, "Ironically some dozen years ago or so we had a Hayeast program in which Saskatchewan had sent some hay to Ontario at that time and so some of them were actually returning the favour at this time."

Overall Saskatchewan farmers were happy to be able to get through the drought smoothly with their help.

"All of them, I think, were quite relieved. From receiving some of the hay itself, and also the big factor was that there was someone thinking about them and willing to walk alongside them in their time of need."