Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks to Natural Resources Conservation Service employees, friends and family during the dedication of the Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center in Beltsville, Maryland. Distinguished guests on the podium with Secretary Vilsack are from left are Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary, Pamela Lieb, Daughter of Norman Berg, Dave White, Chief, NRCS, Jon Scholl, President, American Farmland Trust and Earl “Buddy” Hance, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture. (USDA Photo 09di1378-21)

From left: Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary, Pamela Lieb, Daughter of Norman Berg and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during the dedication of the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center in Beltsville, Marylalnd. Berg was a steadfast supporter of agricultural conservation. (USDA Photo 09di1379-43)

From left: Jon Scholl, President, American Farmland Trust, Earl “Buddy” Hance, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Pamela Lieb, Daughter of Norman Berg, Kathleen Merrigan, Deputy Secretary and Dave White, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service unveil the sign for the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Norman A. Berg National Plant Materials Center in Beltsville, Maryland. Norman Berg was a crucial link and an advocate for conservation of agricultural working lands in the United States for more than 70 years until his death in 2008.(USDA Photo 09di1378-25)