The USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) collects data on swine herd production numbers, management, and herd health approximately every 5 years. The NAHMS commodity study consists of 5 phases. The Needs Assessment Phase uses focus groups and surveys to determine which specific issues should be addressed. The Study Design Phase determines which states, the sampling number, and which data collection instruments are to be used. The Study Implementation Phase involves staff training, promotion, and execution of the data collection plan. The Study Analysis Phases generates descriptive and inferential estimates, and possible publications of the inferential estimates. Finally, the Information Dissemination Phase distributes the information gained from the study through full reports, short information sheets, and presentations. The Swine 2006 study collected data on baselines for diseases and disease agents, management, disease modeling, and surveillance systems through two interviews and the collection of blood and/or fecal samples. In 2007 a Swine Small Enterprise study was conducted, and the focus was on pseudorabies and classic swine fever risk from feral swine. Some of the problems NAHMS encounters with voluntary studies include difficulty in finding interviewees due to the use of contractors or confidentiality agreements, avoiding over-surveying participants, and communication between the various agencies, offices, and representatives involved in the study.