John:
I use about 30 barrels of 55% high fructose corn syrup a year here at the
North Central Plant Introduction Station in Ames Iowa.  We either dilute the
syrup by half or a 1:3 ratio of water to syrup depending on the time of the
year.  This makes the syrup somewhat less viscous and we have never had a
problem with crystallizing even after a week in our buckets.  However, we do
have problems with after a year, the syrup crystallizing along the sides and
in the bottom of the barrels.  A solution which was given to me for this
problem and which might work for you also, is to put a small amount of water
in the container prior to placing the syrup in.  An example for a 55 gallon
barrel is to put about 3 to 4 inches of water (approximately 1/5 of the
barrel) and then pump the syrup in.  When the syrup does crystallize in the
barrel, we pump out most of the liquid as feed, break up the sugar and place
a comparable or slightly greater amount of HOT water to dissolve the sugar.
The liquid can then be used for feed and there is no loss of syrup.

Steve J. Hanlin
USDA; ARS
North Central Regional Plant Introdution Station
State Ave. & Mortensen Rd.
Ames, IA  50011