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

[2][3][4] Ertl held a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the Technical University Munich in 1952.

[9][10] After leaving office he served as the president of the German agricultural society from early 1984 to late 1990.

[4] Ertl was seriously injured in an accident on the farm of his son in the Upper Bavarian district of Landsberg am Lech in mid-November 2000.

[7] He died of complications resulting from severe burn injuries on 20 November 2000 in Murnau at the age of 75.