An agricultural machine for spreading material, such as fertilizer, plant protectant or seed, comprising a control device for controlling the spreading process, the control device being designed to have - one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) which are each configured to provide sensor data for detecting a distance from a reference object (B1, B2), the one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) each being configured to provide sensor data for detecting reflection properties of the reference object (B1, B2), the one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) each being configured to emit one or more electromagnetic waves and to detect the transit time and the intensity of the one or more electromagnetic waves reflected on the reference object (B1, B2), characterized by an evaluation device which is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) and is configured to ascertain, from the sensor data from the respective sensors (12, 12a-12f), the distance of the respective sensors (12, 12a-12f) from the particular reference object (B1, B2) and the reflection properties of the particular reference object (B1, B2), the distance from the reference object being determined via the transit time of the one or more electromagnetic waves reflected on the reference object, taking into account the propagation speed of the electromagnetic waves, and the reflection properties of the reference object being detected via the intensity of the one or more electromagnetic waves reflected on the reference object, the evaluation device being configured to determine the vitality state of the reference object (B1, B2) on the basis of the ascertained reflection properties, the sensor data of the one or more sensors being used to control the spreading amount, the amount being locally increased when a plant having a non-optimal vitality state is detected. - one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) which are each configured to provide sensor data for detecting a distance from a reference object (B1, B2), the one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) each being configured to provide sensor data for detecting reflection properties of the reference object (B1, B2), the one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) each being configured to emit one or more electromagnetic waves and to detect the transit time and the intensity of the one or more electromagnetic waves reflected on the reference object (B1, B2), characterized by an evaluation device which is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) and is configured to ascertain, from the sensor data from the respective sensors (12, 12a-12f), the distance of the respective sensors (12, 12a-12f) from the particular reference object (B1, B2) and the reflection properties of the particular reference object (B1, B2), the distance from the reference object being determined via the transit time of the one or more electromagnetic waves reflected on the reference object, taking into account the propagation speed of the electromagnetic waves, and the reflection properties of the reference object being detected via the intensity of the one or more electromagnetic waves reflected on the reference object, the evaluation device being configured to determine the vitality state of the reference object (B1, B2) on the basis of the ascertained reflection properties, the sensor data of the one or more sensors being used to control the spreading amount, the amount being locally increased when a plant having a non-optimal vitality state is detected. the one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) each being configured to provide sensor data for detecting reflection properties of the reference object (B1, B2), the one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) each being configured to emit one or more electromagnetic waves and to detect the transit time and the intensity of the one or more electromagnetic waves reflected on the reference object (B1, B2), characterized by an evaluation device which is connected in a signal-conducting manner to the one or more sensors (12, 12a-12f) and is configured to ascertain, from the sensor data from the respective sensors (12, 12a-12f), the distance of the respective sensors (12, 12a-12f) from the particular reference object (B1, B2) and the reflection properties of the particular reference object (B1, B2), the distance from the reference object being determined via the transit time of the one or more electromagnetic waves reflected on the reference object, taking into account the propagation speed of the electromagnetic waves, and the reflection properties of the reference object being detected via the intensity of the one or more electromagnetic waves reflected on the reference object, the evaluation device being configured to determine the vitality state of the reference object (B1, B2) on the basis of the ascertained reflection properties, the sensor data of the one or more sensors being used to control the spreading amount, the amount being locally increased when a plant having a non-optimal vitality state is detected.