What event indicated the tensions between farmers and ranchers over land use?

The use of barbed wire marked a significant turning point in the conflicts between farmers and ranchers over land use in the late 19th century. As farmers began to settle on the Great Plains and cultivate the land, they required a method to protect their crops from livestock that was often allowed to roam freely. Barbed wire provided an effective solution for enclosing fields, which directly conflicted with the ranchers' traditional practices of open-range grazing.

This tension grew because ranchers relied on open spaces for their cattle to graze, and the rise of barbed wire fences limited their movements. As these two groups competed for land and resources, disputes frequently erupted over fence boundaries and access to water sources. The introduction of barbed wire ultimately contributed to the end of the open-range cattle industry, leading to a transformation in land use patterns across the American West.

In contrast, bronco busting contests reflect cultural aspects of the ranching lifestyle but do not directly illustrate conflicts over land use. Cattle rustling incidents are criminal acts that occurred as a result of the larger tensions but were more symptomatic of the conflict rather than indicative of the underlying issue. Land grant conflicts pertain to legal disputes over land ownership but do not encapsulate the broader tensions arising from