diff --git a/jacquard/expand.py b/jacquard/expand.py
index 0fcbc60..fafc8ef 100644
--- a/jacquard/expand.py
+++ b/jacquard/expand.py
@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@ def execute(args, dummy_execution_context):
 
     file_writer.write("#" + "\t".join(actual_columns) + "\n")
 
+    line_count = 0
     vcf_reader.open()
     for vcf_record in vcf_reader.vcf_records():
         row_dict = _create_row_dict(vcf_reader.split_column_header,
@@ -175,6 +176,11 @@ def execute(args, dummy_execution_context):
                 new_line.append(".")
 
         file_writer.write("\t".join(new_line) + "\n")
+        line_count +=1
+        if line_count % 10000 == 0:
+            logger.info("Expanding: {} rows processed", line_count)
+    logger.info("Expand complete: {} rows processed", line_count)
+
     file_writer.close()
     vcf_reader.close()
 
diff --git a/jacquard/merge.py b/jacquard/merge.py
index a219260..42e832d 100644
--- a/jacquard/merge.py
+++ b/jacquard/merge.py
@@ -335,7 +335,6 @@ def _write_headers(reader, file_writer):
     file_writer.write("\n".join(headers) + "\n")
 
 def _sort_vcf(reader, temp_dir):
-    logger.info("Sorting vcf [{}]", reader.file_name)
     vcf_records = []
     sorted_dir = os.path.join(temp_dir, "tmp")
     os.makedirs(sorted_dir)
@@ -359,7 +358,12 @@ def _sort_vcf(reader, temp_dir):
 
 def _get_unsorted_readers(vcf_readers):
     unsorted_readers = []
-    for reader in vcf_readers:
+    for i, reader in enumerate(vcf_readers):
+        logger.info("Checking sort order of [{}] ({}/{})",
+                    reader.file_name,
+                    i+1,
+                    len(vcf_readers)
+                    )
         previous_record = None
         reader.open()
         for vcf_record in reader.vcf_records():
@@ -378,8 +382,14 @@ def _get_unsorted_readers(vcf_readers):
 def _sort_readers(vcf_readers, temp_dir):
     unsorted_readers = _get_unsorted_readers(vcf_readers)
     sorted_readers = []
+    unsorted_count = 0
     for reader in vcf_readers:
         if reader in unsorted_readers:
+            unsorted_count += 1
+            logger.info("Sorting vcf [{}] ({}/{})",
+                        reader.file_name,
+                        unsorted_count,
+                        len(unsorted_readers))
             reader = _sort_vcf(reader, temp_dir)
         sorted_readers.append(reader)
     return sorted_readers
@@ -598,10 +608,10 @@ def execute(args, execution_context):
         file_writer.open()
 
         buffered_readers, vcf_readers = _create_reader_lists(file_readers)
+        format_tags_to_keep = _build_format_tags(format_tag_regex, vcf_readers)
         vcf_readers = _sort_readers(vcf_readers, output_path)
         all_sample_names, merge_metaheaders = _build_sample_list(vcf_readers)
         coordinates = _build_coordinates(vcf_readers)
-        format_tags_to_keep = _build_format_tags(format_tag_regex, vcf_readers)
         info_tags_to_keep = _build_info_tags(coordinates)
         contigs_to_keep = _build_contigs(coordinates)
         incoming_headers = _FILE_FORMAT + execution_context + merge_metaheaders
@@ -614,6 +624,8 @@ def execute(args, execution_context):
 
         _write_metaheaders(file_writer, headers)
 
+        row_count = 0
+        next_breakpoint = 0
         for coordinate in coordinates:
             merged_record = _merge_records(filter_strategy,
                                            coordinate,
@@ -623,6 +635,15 @@ def execute(args, execution_context):
             if merged_record:
                 file_writer.write(merged_record.text())
 
+            row_count += 1
+            progress = 100 * row_count / len(coordinates)
+            if progress > next_breakpoint:
+                logger.info("Merging: {} rows processed ({}%)", 
+                            row_count,
+                            next_breakpoint)
+                next_breakpoint = 10 * int(progress/10) + 10
+
+        logger.info("Merge complete: {} rows processed (100%)", row_count)
         filter_strategy.log_statistics()
 
     finally:
diff --git a/test/merge_test.py b/test/merge_test.py
index ccbcbc2..012dc68 100644
--- a/test/merge_test.py
+++ b/test/merge_test.py
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@
 import test.utils.test_case as test_case
 from test.utils.vcf_test import MockVcfReader, MockFileReader
 
-#TODO: (cgates): Suspect duplicate tests
-#Consider tests across Filter, merge_records, pull_matching_records; simplify?
 
 class MockBufferedReader(object):
     def __init__(self, vcf_records):
@@ -1044,8 +1042,10 @@ def test_sort_readers_vcfsResortedAsNecessary(self):
         self.assertEquals(record2.text(), actual_records[1].text())
         self.assertEquals(record3.text(), actual_records[2].text())
         actual_log_infos = test.utils.mock_logger.messages["INFO"]
-        self.assertEquals(1, len(actual_log_infos))
-        self.assertRegexpMatches(actual_log_infos[0], r"Sorting vcf \[unsorted.vcf\]")
+        self.assertEquals(3, len(actual_log_infos))
+        self.assertRegexpMatches(actual_log_infos[0], r"Checking sort order of \[vcfName\] \(1/2\)")
+        self.assertRegexpMatches(actual_log_infos[1], r"Checking sort order of \[unsorted.vcf\] \(2/2\)")
+        self.assertRegexpMatches(actual_log_infos[2], r"Sorting vcf \[unsorted.vcf\] \(1/1\)")
         actual_log_debugs = test.utils.mock_logger.messages["DEBUG"]
         self.assertEquals(1, len(actual_log_debugs))
         self.assertRegexpMatches(actual_log_debugs[0],