Southern farmers are in a flap about wild ducks, calling for the mallard breed to be designated pests so they can be killed throughout the year.

Southland’s Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick said an explosion of ducks is causing big problems as they are munching through crops.

Herrick said farmers asked the local Fish and Game for permission to cull the problem ducks but were turned down and told they could only shoot to scare them.

The Country's Jamie Mackay unpacks this latest stoush.

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