Beef producers making round bale hay have been encouraged to protect their investment in the stored forage by limiting exposure to weather.  A couple of young producers have taken advantage of a low interest loan program and built permanent hay storage structures. The hay storage will provide shelter for their baled hay until winter feeding time. One thing that producers often struggle with is, when should they stack the rolled hay in the barn. Baled hay has a tendency to heat soon after baling, especially if the moisture content of the forage was higher than expected. Rolled hay that was baled with a higher than desired moisture content, stacked tightly in a barn can pose a risk for catching fire. Several producers have contacted the local ANR Agent to assist them in determining the moisture and temperature of their baled hay before storing inside the new hay barns. Ideally the moisture for rolled hay is < 18%, and the internal temperature is declining or near ambient temperature before storing hay inside.  Rolled hay that is stored inside and the internal bale temperature it rising, particularly 140 F or above can be at risk for spontaneous combustion and should be monitored closely.  A bale probe was used by the ANR Agent at each location several days in a row to determine moisture content and if internal bale temperature was declining. This information was used by the producers to determine when to stack their hay inside to help reduce the risk of a hay fire.