Abstract: A dispensing hopper (1) for dispensing particulate material comprises a base (3) having a pair of inclined base portions (11) inclining downwardly inwardly towards a dispensing channel (14) of semi-circular transverse cross-section. A dispensing auger (18) located in the dispensing channel (14) urges powder material along the dispensing channel (14) through a dispensing outlet port (15). Agitating discs (30), which are rotatably mounted on the inclined base portions (11), are each provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart gear teeth (36) extending radially from the outer periphery (35) thereof. The gear teeth (36) of the agitating discs (30) engage a flight (21) of the dispensing auger (18) so that as the dispensing auger (18) rotates the agitating discs (30) are rotated. The gear teeth (36) of the agitating discs (30) act on the powder material in the hopper (1) in order to prevent bridging of the powder material over the auger (18).