Seems like overkill to me. Especially when I think about all the old barns I've seen with cloth insulated wire.
Can you get enough hay dust to make an area classified? I'm not sure. It seems similar to grain dust, but I think hay dust is probably made up of larger particles.
I believe in Illinois, a typical privately owned barn would be exempt from needing any engineering design, since it would not normally have any human occupancy.
Steve
I am glad i asked..... UF, NMC, MC behind the t&g wood ,547.5. I plan using all wp covers and vapor proof fixtures, upstair I was going to use emt or pvc.
still not convinced on RMS. the ahj told me RMC for the hay loft......I guess
I will ask him again. the spec is coming from an Architects not an EE