The Fish and Game Council says it doubts farmers will be able to successfully manage Canada Geese numbers despite the lifting of the bird's protected status which took effect on Thursday.
In March, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson announced the decision to lift the protected game bird status, which allows landowners and aviation managers to cull the birds themselves.
Fish and Game chief executive Bryce Johnson says the geese will no longer be managed as a hunting resource, and landowners will be tasked with the job of culling the birds themselves.
Mr Johnson suspects farmers don't know what they're in for and numbers will rise.
He says over the past 10 years Fish and Game has successfully kept Canada Geese numbers low.
However Federated Farmers says Fish and Game has not adequately managed Canada Geese, and it now has a big mess to clean up.
Its game spokesperson, Donald Aubrey, says from today landowners can defend their properties from these pests, instead of having to put up with them.
Mr Aubrey says farmers, and local authorities can successfully control Canada Geese, and a number of hunters have also said they will help.
