Gandalf has purchased a tract of land in Randolph County, North Carolina. His plan is to build a livestock operation, but before he purchases animals he wishes to first build some infrastructure to enhance and protect local water sources. As it happens, the 2018 Farm Bill has authorized funding of the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) which provides funding to qualified applicants for wells and stream crossing projects as incentives to improve water quality. Gandalf applies for funding at his local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, a division of US Department of Agriculture) office, but his application is not approved. When he goes back to the NRCS office, the local conservationist tells him he's just too old to start farming. Incensed, Gandalf files a federal age discrimination claim with the Federal District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. USDA files a motion to dismiss, and the Court promptly grants it. Why? a. As for his age discrimination claim, the case is not yet ripe, because Gandalf has not exhausted his administrative remedies and the court does not know what NRCS's final agency action will be
b. Gandalf is indeed too old to farm
c. The NRCS was justified in refusing Gandalf's application since he did not yet own cattle
d. The federal court lacks subject matter jurisdiction