A champion of no-till and always willing to offer growers advice, Ed Winkle, 65, died on Good Friday, April 3, at the Hospice Center of Cincinnati after a yearlong battle with cancer.

Honored as one in an elite class of No-Till Innovators, the Martinsville, Ohio, no-tiller and crop consultant was a popular speaker at the National No-Tillage Conference and was particularly well-regarded for his work with no-tilled soybeans. In fact, Winkle authored a special 16-page report for No-Till Farmer entitled, “Growing High-Profit No-Till Soybeans.”

“I had many opportunities to work with Ed through both our conference and as a source for articles in No-Till Farmer. Ed had a big heart for farmers trying to solve no-till challenges, and he was always so willing to offer any advice or suggestions because he wanted farmers to succeed with no-till,” says Frank Lessiter, editor of No-Till Farmer. “We’re going to miss Ed’s helpful spirit.”

Winkle operated Hymark Consulting, and was recognized for his work in no-till and advancement of the practice in 2000 with the honor of No-Till Innovator in the Business & Service category.

A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, at 11 a.m. at St. Angela Merici Parish at St. Patrick’s Chapel in Fayetteville, Ohio. Memorials may be made to the National FFA Foundation or to the state FFA Foundation of your choice.

He is survived by his wife, LuAnn; his children Matthew (Rachel) Winkle, Mark (Anna) Winkle and Rebecca (William) Peters; his step-children Shannon (Kevin) Abt, Eric (Stacy) Cleveland and Tara (Erik) Block; one sister, Linda (Fred) Vollborn; and one brother, Jeffrey (Suzanne) Winkle.

Winkle was an agriculture educator and FFA advisor at Blanchester High School and Clermont Northeastern High School. He also served as an Ohio State University Extension agent in Warren County for more than three decades. He was a member of the Ohio State University Lead Class V and was a delegate to the People to People Agriculture Ambassador Program to China in 1990.