USDA APHIS regulates the importation of plant material, including cereal straw and husks, due to the risk of introducing quarantine pests and weed seeds. Depending on the origin country and intended use, an APHIS import permit and a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country's national plant protection organization may be required. Importers should contact APHIS well in advance of shipment to confirm current permit and treatment requirements.

Pelleting compresses straw into a uniform, dense form that significantly reduces shipping volume and bulk handling costs, making long-distance trade more economically viable. Pellets also have more consistent moisture content and are easier to meter in automated feeding systems, which appeals to large-scale livestock operations. The trade-off is the added processing cost at origin, which must be weighed against freight savings.