Josef Ertl

Josef Ertl (7 March 1925 – 16 November 2000) was a German politician who served as the minister of agriculture in different cabinets of West Germany and was a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP).

Early life and education Ertl's family were from Bavaria. He was born on 7 March 1925 and raised in Munich.

Ertl held a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the Technical University of Munich in 1952. He served in the FDP's regional council of Munich from 1952 to 1956. He also headed the Bavarian branch of the party from 1971 to 1983.

He was appointed minister of agriculture to the coalition government led by Prime Minister Willy Brandt on 22 October 1969. Ertl replaced Hermann Höcherl in the post.

After leaving office he served as the president of the German agricultural society from early 1984 to late 1990. He died of complications resulting from severe burn injuries on 20 November 2000 in Murnau at the age of 75.