created agricultural universities encouraging farmers to develop to develop there skills. With this and the Homestead act, granted 160 acres of land to farmers, this fueled the western movement. More land was granted to farmers during the Oklahoma Land Rush where the government gave white settlers the ability to own previously owned Native American land.
Some of the technology created during this time was Bared wire, this helped farmers keep livestock in their property.
While the west expanded the farmers relied on the railroads to ship their goods to the big cities to make moneys. But the railroads took advantage of the farmers and resulted in Railroad abuse.  This abuse was in the form of unfair prices and the use of rebates for large customers. The states took action against this abuse by regulating it with the Granger laws. The ICC also was created to regulate commerce in attempt to aid those who wished to move out west.