Agricultural economists have devoted considerable research efforts to measuring aggregate capital gains accruing to the U.S. agricultural sector and their effect on the welfare of farm families (Bhatia, Evans and. Simunek, Hoover, Melichar and Sayre). A specific research issue concerning capital gains is preferential treatment under federal income taxation statutes. Carmen (1968, 1969) outlined the general tax shelters provided by capital gains taxation and explored the example of beef breeding herds in some detail. Vandeputte and Baker demonstrated that preferential capital gains taxation encourages extensive rather than intensive farm firm growth.