Distribution machine, in particular agricultural spreader or winter grit spreader, having - at least one container (7; 8, 9) for holding material to be spread, in the form of a powder and/or particles; - at least one discharge opening which is arranged on the underside of the container (7; 8, 9); - at least one metering device which interacts with the discharge opening and has a metering component (14, 15) equipped with a metering opening (16, 17), and a metering slide which interacts with the metering opening (16, 17), in order to close the metering opening (16, 17) entirely in a closed position of the metering slide, and can be at least partially opened in at least one open position of the metering slide; - at least one distribution element (3, 4) which is arranged underneath the discharge opening and the metering device; and - at least one device for adjusting the point of application of the material to be spread onto the distribution element (3, 4) with at least one actuator (26, 27; 49) which is designed to make the metering component (14, 15), equipped with the metering opening (16, 17), of the metering device move to and fro relative to the distribution element (3, 4); wherein at least the actuator (26, 27; 49) of the device for adjusting the point of application is operatively connected to a control unit configured by a program, characterized in that the control unit causes the actuator (26, 27; 49) of the device for adjusting the point of application with respect to an at least single to and fro movement, in order to move the metering component (14, 15), equipped with the metering opening (16, 17), to and fro between two different positions relative to the discharge opening, - when the control unit receives a corresponding instruction which is input into an operator control module of the control unit; and/or - when a filling level and/or mass flow detection device which is operatively connected to the control unit has detected that the container (7; 8, 9) has been emptied, and/or an, at the most, minimum mass flow of material to be spread, or non of said material at all, passes through the metering opening (16, 17) when the metering slide is opened. - at least one container (7; 8, 9) for holding material to be spread, in the form of a powder and/or particles; - at least one discharge opening which is arranged on the underside of the container (7; 8, 9); - at least one metering device which interacts with the discharge opening and has a metering component (14, 15) equipped with a metering opening (16, 17), and a metering slide which interacts with the metering opening (16, 17), in order to close the metering opening (16, 17) entirely in a closed position of the metering slide, and can be at least partially opened in at least one open position of the metering slide; - at least one distribution element (3, 4) which is arranged underneath the discharge opening and the metering device; and - at least one device for adjusting the point of application of the material to be spread onto the distribution element (3, 4) with at least one actuator (26, 27; 49) which is designed to make the metering component (14, 15), equipped with the metering opening (16, 17), of the metering device move to and fro relative to the distribution element (3, 4); - when the control unit receives a corresponding instruction which is input into an operator control module of the control unit; and/or - when a filling level and/or mass flow detection device which is operatively connected to the control unit has detected that the container (7; 8, 9) has been emptied, and/or an, at the most, minimum mass flow of material to be spread, or non of said material at all, passes through the metering opening (16, 17) when the metering slide is opened.